White Doves is set in New Iberia at the outbreak of the Civil War. New Iberia is in the Louisiana Bayou-the same locale as his Robicheaux series. The tart-tongued Willie Burke is the son of an Irish woman who runs a boarding house. Robert Perry is the son of rich plantation owners. Yet these two lads are fast friends and they find themselves pulled into the Civil War. Their roads take them down separate paths during the war. Perry (by virtue of his birth) is an officer and gets shipped up to Virginia. Willie starts out as a private and begins his enlistment at the Battle of Shiloh. I found the parts that involve the war to be the most engrossing in White Doves. Despite not really believing in the principles of the war, Willie distinguishes himself and eventually becomes an officer as well.
Burke also deals with many issues back home in New Iberia. The beautiful Abigail Dowling, is an abolitionist from Massachusetts. Both Perry and Willie are in love with her, although they have a hard time reconciling her politics to their actions (unknown to them, she is actually part of the Underground Railroad). Willie has taken a liking to an intelligent slave girl, Flower Jamison, and teaches her how to read and write. Flower is the daughter of a plantation owner, Ira Jamison, who is ruthless and refuses to recognize Flower as his daughter. There are more than enough villains in White Doves, and Burke describes many of them as "white trash." Some of them will get their just rewards, while others will form the beginnings of the Ku Klux Klan.
White Doves at Morning is a decent book, and Burke's characters are engaging and his writing is always first rate. His descriptions of Louisiana are a work of art.
Burke also deals with many issues back home in New Iberia. The beautiful Abigail Dowling, is an abolitionist from Massachusetts. Both Perry and Willie are in love with her, although they have a hard time reconciling her politics to their actions (unknown to them, she is actually part of the Underground Railroad). Willie has taken a liking to an intelligent slave girl, Flower Jamison, and teaches her how to read and write. Flower is the daughter of a plantation owner, Ira Jamison, who is ruthless and refuses to recognize Flower as his daughter. There are more than enough villains in White Doves, and Burke describes many of them as "white trash." Some of them will get their just rewards, while others will form the beginnings of the Ku Klux Klan.
White Doves at Morning is a decent book, and Burke's characters are engaging and his writing is always first rate. His descriptions of Louisiana are a work of art.
