The March

The March follows General William Tecumseh Sherman's destructive campaign through Georgia and the Carolinas in 1864-1865. A force of 60,000 Union troops cuts through Confederate territory, destroying infrastructure and drawing thousands of freed slaves and refugees in their wake. The narrative shifts between multiple perspectives, including Union and Confederate soldiers, freed slaves, civilians, and military leaders. The characters range from Pearl, a light-skinned freed slave navigating her new independence, to Colonel Sartorius, a Union field surgeon, to Sherman himself as he commands his massive force through enemy territory. Sherman emerges as a complex military commander who executes brutal tactics while grappling with their implications. His army's path creates a transformed landscape where former slaves, displaced civilians, and soldiers from both sides must adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. The novel examines how war reshapes individual lives while exploring themes of freedom, identity, and the true cost of social transformation. Through its panoramic view of Sherman's March, it reveals how large-scale historical events impact people across social and racial boundaries.

Readers appreciate Doctorow's portrayal of multiple perspectives during Sherman's March, from freed slaves to Confederate deserters to Union soldiers. Many note the vivid descriptions of the destruction and chaos of war, with one reader calling it "cinematic in its sweep across the burning landscape." Readers highlight the complex characters, particularly Pearl, a freed slave girl, and Emily Thompson, a judge's daughter. The interweaving storylines help humanize the historical events. Common criticisms include the large cast of characters making it difficult to form emotional connections, and the stream-of-consciousness writing style creating confusion. Some readers found the pacing uneven, with slow sections between battle scenes. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (450+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (900+ ratings) "The narrative jumps between characters too frequently," notes one Amazon reviewer, while another praises how "each character's story illuminates a different aspect of this pivotal campaign."

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier Chronicles a Confederate soldier's journey home through the Civil War South, depicting the same ravaged landscape and disrupted social order that forms the backdrop of The March.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Presents the Civil War and its aftermath from the Southern perspective, focusing on the transformation of society that Sherman's campaign helped precipitate.

Property by Valerie Martin Examines the complex relationships between slaves and owners in the antebellum South, complementing The March's exploration of racial dynamics during the Civil War period.

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride Follows a young slave through multiple Civil War adventures, offering a perspective on the era's racial upheaval that parallels The March's treatment of freed slaves.

Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks Details John Brown's antislavery campaign through his son's eyes, providing insight into the ideological conflicts that led to the events depicted in The March.

🔸 General Sherman's March to the Sea destroyed an estimated $100 million worth of property (about $1.6 billion today) and covered roughly 285 miles over 37 days. 🔸 E.L. Doctorow wrote "The March" in 2005, and it won both the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award. 🔸 The historical term "40 acres and a mule" originated during Sherman's March, when he issued Special Field Order No. 15 promising land to freed slaves. 🔸 Though Sherman is often portrayed as ruthless, he explicitly ordered his troops to spare private homes and churches during the march, focusing destruction on military and economic targets. 🔸 The novel's unique narrative style, featuring multiple perspectives, was influenced by Doctorow's earlier work "Ragtime," which pioneered his signature blend of historical figures and fictional characters.