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    Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson
    Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson
    Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson
    Audiobook24 hours

    Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson

    Written by S. C. Gwynne

    Narrated by Cotter Smith

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the epic New York Times bestselling account of how Civil War general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson became a great and tragic national hero.

    Stonewall Jackson has long been a figure of legend and romance. As much as any person in the Confederate pantheon—even Robert E. Lee—he embodies the romantic Southern notion of the virtuous lost cause. Jackson is also considered, without argument, one of our country’s greatest military figures. In April 1862, however, he was merely another Confederate general in an army fighting what seemed to be a losing cause. But by June he had engineered perhaps the greatest military campaign in American history and was one of the most famous men in the Western world. Jackson’s strategic innovations shattered the conventional wisdom of how war was waged; he was so far ahead of his time that his techniques would be studied generations into the future.

    In his “magnificent Rebel Yell…S.C. Gwynne brings Jackson ferociously to life” (New York Newsday) in a swiftly vivid narrative that is rich with battle lore, biographical detail, and intense conflict among historical figures. Gwynne delves deep into Jackson’s private life and traces Jackson’s brilliant twenty-four-month career in the Civil War, the period that encompasses his rise from obscurity to fame and legend; his stunning effect on the course of the war itself; and his tragic death, which caused both North and South to grieve the loss of a remarkable American hero.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateSep 30, 2014
    ISBN9781442367364
    Author

    S. C. Gwynne

    S.C. Gwynne is the author of His Majesty’s Airship, Hymns of the Republic, and the New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife.

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    Reviews for Rebel Yell

    4.5/5

    245 ratings33 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be an exceptional, wonderfully written and well-researched biography of Stonewall Jackson. The author's unbiased perspective and engaging storytelling bring Jackson's life and the Civil War to life. While some reviewers mention the author's glorification of Jackson and his allegiance to the Confederacy, overall, readers appreciate the thoroughness, insight, and detail of this book. It is highly recommended for history enthusiasts and those interested in learning about an extraordinary man and his impact on history.

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      A wonderful and terrible story of the simple man who was a legend. An extraordinary man with a uniqueness legends do not often convey. The Rebel yell is a painfully honest recount of Jackson much like the man himself.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Well written. The story the violence and the passion are well told, I failed to see any redemption?

      The man was obviously deeply spiritual and a brilliant leader but unfortunately hw fought for a misguided cause.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      A Damn fine work, well written, well researched, and well told. I'll go buy the hard copy for my library.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is the most detailed and engaging Civil War biography that I’ve ever read. Gwynne draws you in, puts you on the battlefield with General Jackson, and then never lets you go until that fateful day...

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Exceptional, in every sense of the word. If it were in my power to describe just how wonderfully written this book is, and how excellently it is voiced in this recording, I would certainly give it credit. Unfortunately, I lack that skill.

      I've rarely read a biography that made me feel so especially close to the subject individual as this one. It is truly a stand-out masterpiece in its own right and I cannot recommend it enough.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      A moving and insightful rendering of Jackson’s life. Ready for a third listen.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This was a wonderful account of a man who was truly a hero and to whom modernity AND history owe a great deal of admiration.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      s.c. is so great....I am a huge civil war, huge stonewall fan...put this one off for awhile, I'm not sure why.

      so great...so, perfect in mode and content.
    • 5/5
      An enlightening deep dive into the man that was Stonewall Jackson. Many aspects of his life I thought I knew were corrected. I knew he was a Christ follower but this book presented the case that he was completely sold out to the Idea that Christ must be Lord of your whole life.
    • 5/5
      Great story about a person who by this books account was a good god fearing man but is often vilified due to his allegiance.
    • 5/5
      A very thorough and detailed story of General Jackson. Thanks
    • 5/5
      One of the best Civil War books I’ve ever read
    • 5/5
      Great read and insight into Jacksons personal history behind the battle information
    • 5/5
      Great history of a very interesting hero and inside story of the civil war
    • 5/5
      The details are amazing. A must read or listen for any person interested in history. I learned a lot and appreciate the detail put forth in this book.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely one of the best Civil War books I’ve ever read or listen to. I am an avid Civil War follower/fan and the narrator actually made me feel like I was part of the story. I cannot recommend this book enough.
    • 5/5
      This is an excellent biography on an incredible man, which engages neither in hagiography nor villainization. Deo Vindice.
    • 5/5
      Lots of insight and battle strategies add to the story!
    • 5/5
      I’ve read many books on Jackson, this one is one of the best ever. Great book, great man.
    • 5/5
      This book is well written. The author places you on the battlefield and in the head of the complex general known as stonewall jackson
    • 5/5
      Big civil war buff and fan of General Jackson though he fought on the wrong side. Wonderfully presented
    • 5/5
      Non stop. What an amazing journey this was. Everything about this book resonates to the human soul.
    • 5/5
      I couldn’t stop listening to this great book. The author’s research and his unbiased perspective of Jackson’s life, brought forth in a very interesting and thoughtful way, was superb. Thank you.
    • 3/5
      SC Gwynne is an excellent writer and the book is a best in class historical narrative. The narration is well cast and and compelling to listen to, even over a 25 hour reading. Where the author fails is in his glorification of the central character - almost eager to gloss over how this was a slave owning war monger who thrived when others died at his sword. His casting of Jackson’s main failings as being nothing more than too much piety and too great a sense of obedience was an over reach for a historical author just as if he had swung too far to the other extreme criticizing Jackson for defending an evil status quo. That’s not the historian’s job. Further, the notion the Confederacy might have won had a line of of Confederate soldiers not shot Jackson in. The back is also a critical misfire. Yet this is a constant refrain in the book. A+ for writing style and applied talent, C- for what seems like a revisionist defense of a Southern glory that never really existed.

      4 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Having wanted to read a biography of Jackson, this was one of two main books that were recommended to me. I definitely wanted a book that touched on his faith and not just his time in the war. This book does a decent job at that. While I can't fault it on covering a great majority of Jackson during the war, it does cover the man and pre-war times. The fault lies in that it doesn't do that enough and tends to sparse those times throughout the book rather than covering it linearly. Another slight fault is that it tends to cover a lot of other people to and there are times when Jackson's story get drowned out by others or other parts of the war. Those might not be negatives to other however. For me, I tended to lose interest in parts. Not because it wasn't interesting but because I was more interested in Jackson's story. However, I can appreciate the author providing a good amount of detail for those who don't know or didn't recall certain battles or details of the war. The book gave a fair and balanced view of Jackson and didn't create a hero worship of him, although treated him with much respect. I will say after spending time in the book, getting to Jackson's death was emotional and I think it had succeeded in giving me insight to a man I wanted to learn about. Final Grade - B
    • 5/5
      First off, let me say that I absolutely love anything and everything to do with The Civil War (even going so far as to marrying a man who grew up outside Gettysburg). That said, I was excited to read this book, and I must say that I was not disappointed.This is truly an exceptional book about an exceptional human being. Mr. Gwynne does an excellent job of detailing not only the life of General Jackson, but also the lives of the people around him; the events that shaped his life; and the events of this sad, but necessary, war.I did not know the sad circumstances surrounding General Jackson's early life: his father passing when he was but a child, his mother's remarriage and subsequent death, and his being "farmed out" to relatives. He was at least lucky enough to be welcomed into a family that truly loved him. He had an early marriage to Ellen, which ended abruptly when she died after giving birth to a stillborn son; but he was fortunate enough to find love again and from all appearances and letters which have survived to this day, they truly loved one another, eventually having a daughter, Julia - of which the general was indeed fond.He was a professor of physics at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), from which he left to continue his military career; and extremely religious, which he carried with him in his day-to-day life: when his first wife Ellen passed away, he was comforted in the knowledge that she was with God, but it did not, in turn, keep him from deep grief. Yet he never let his beliefs keep him from what he thought was his military duty: he was a stern officer and rigorous commander, unpredictable; yet at the same time, he could be extremely caring toward his men. He was thoughtful, kind, tender and sensitive toward his family and friends; and while he kept to himself, he also was a loving and gentle husband when he was with Anna (his second wife). He believed himself ill quite often, keeping to a rigorous diet of stale bread and water, very little meat; never even to have been known to drink tea or coffee.It is a testament to Jackson that when he was mortally wounded his troops refused to leave him behind. He was hit three times, and when the battle was still raging, his aide covered Jackson with his own body to protect him. It could not, however, save him. His wife was sent for, and on May 10, 1863, the country lost one of the greatest generals that ever lived.The descriptions of campaigns and troop movements are done beautifully; Mr. Gwynne has definitely given us images of what once occurred during those dark times, and the lives that were lost; the well-known battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Second Bull Run, and his unfortunate death. Southern general he was, but a brilliant one nevertheless. Had he lived, there might have been more deaths for the northern fighters. He was widely known due to his exceptional performance at the Valley Campaign.I have always been fascinated with General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson; not only for his prowess in battle, but for the man he was, his clear eyes showing everything. I am a firm believer that the eyes truly are the windows to the soul; and his reveal everything that has been shown here in this narrative. I do not know what more I can say except to stress that this book is indeed worth reading. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the Civil War and/or its commanders.
    • 4/5
      This was a great non-fiction book about the esteemed general. It shows his life, thinking, personality, and courage amidst a series of institutions in the south that challenged the very face of what he believed in. The battles were a bit complex to follow, but ultimately the book shows the man behind the legend, the glass behind the mirror. A worthwhile book and one that I am glad that I read.4 stars!
    • 5/5
      I read a lot of biographies. As a student of history, I have found that biographies, many times, are the best way to assess historical events. I am in the midst of reading a string of biographies, some of which are too scholarly for my taste while others read a little too simple. This biography of Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson struck exactly the right chord with me. It was well researched and presented, while at the same time, being captivating and intriguing.I was a student at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, so was well aware of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and the legacy of both Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Both men spent time in Lexington and are interred there.Jackson was an exceptionally strange man. He suffered from a number of personal and professional quirks. However, there has seldom been a man more suited for the historical events that confronted him than Jackson. Winston Churchill comes to mind as a similar figure in that respect. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Jackson went from being an absolute failure as a college professor at VMI, to the most celebrated military figure in the world at the conclusion of his brilliant Valley Campaign. Though a prickly figure who had extremely poor interpersonal skills, Jackson somehow motivated the men under his command to accomplish near impossible feats of military maneuver and tactic while most other generals, in both armies, failed miserably in that regard. His flanking maneuver at Chancellorsville, which ultimately led to his death, was one of the seminal tactical maneuvers in American military history. Many surmise that Jackson’s presence on the Gettysburg battlefield would have almost certainly led to a different military result. This book follows Jackson from childhood to his death, soon after the Battle of Chancellorsville, but it includes an appendix that documents the events that followed as well as the historical figures that played a role in his life. It is not a comprehensive treatment of the Civil War itself, only those battles in which Jackson participated, and how they impacted the bigger strategic outlook of the conflict.
    • 5/5
      Thorough and exciting to read. Very detailed, so much so that it took me quite a long time to get through this tome, but worth every page.
    • 4/5
      This was a very interesting book about Stonewall Jackson (my ancestor) and the any people he encountered. I learned so much about the man and I feel like I have a picture of what he was like. Cotter did a great job reading it too.