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Albion Winegar Tourgée
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A Fool's Errand: A Novel of the South During Reconstruction Kindle Edition

by Albion W. Tourgee (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 64 ratings
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“We tried to superimpose the civilization, the idea of the North, upon the South at a moment’s warning … It was a Fool’s Errand.”



The year is 1865 and the war between the states of North and South has ended.

Comfort Servosse, a Union officer, has decided to make his life in the South.

But is he only a fool for doing so?

Drawing upon his own experiences Albion Tourgee constructed a novel which vividly brings to life the world of the South during the Reconstruction.

“The native Southron, the 'poor white,' the carpet-bagger, the old Unioner, the freedman, the Ku-Klux, and the social, moral, and political life of the South, are all handled with uncommon power and humor, coupled with a relentless satire.” Washington (D.C.) National Republican.

Originally published anonymously it was an immediate success in the late nineteenth century, selling over 200,000 copies.

With its commentary on racial issues in the American South it continues to be essential reading for citizens of the twenty-first century as it was for those of the nineteenth.

“We have not anywhere seen an account of the troubles that beset a Northern family's residence in the South which impressed us as being more truthful, more complete, or more powerfully written, than this." Chicago Tribune.

"Its word-pictures are so realistic that one sees, hears, and feels the very presence of the individuals that crowd its pages. The night-ride of young Lily Servosse . . . . is one of the finest and most thrilling incidents that has ever been told in history or romance." San Francisco Chronicle.

"What is most remarkable about the book is the spirit of fairness that pervades it." Philadelphia Times.

"Considered as a frank and candid picture of the difficulties encountered by Northern emigrants to the South during the time of reconstruction, by a writer who honestly sets down what he believes to be the truth, and who appears to be sincerely disposed to do strict justice to all men, the book will interest a large circle of readers." N. Y. Evening Post.

Albion Tourgee was an American soldier who was wounded at the First Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Perryville. After the American Civil War he wrote a number of books including A Royal Gentleman, Bricks Without Straw and A Fool’s Errand which was published in 1879. He died in 1905.
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  1. Print length
    330 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    July 12, 2016
  5. File size
    2975 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01IDJ7T6M
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elemental House Publishing (July 12, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 12, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2975 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 330 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1519082525
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 64 ratings

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Albion Winegar Tourgée

Albion Winegar Tourgée

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
64 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

D'Artagnan
5.0 out of 5 stars Causes of the failure of Reconstruction
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is an interesting account of Reconstrution that describes how and why it failed and includes a brief treatment of an alternative approach that might have been more successful. Much of the story is apparently based on the author's personal experience.
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Pam Ackerman
4.0 out of 5 stars Still Relevant
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023
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To urge has provided us with a thorough look into the hearts of the people who struggled with all the fall out of the civil war.
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Benji
5.0 out of 5 stars Impactful
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
This historical novel illustrates the social conditions that were prominent during the reconstruction era of the American South. To that we are introduced to a highly optimistic character who endeavors to do good but only makes a fool of himself. This deeply saddening work is only amplified by the real history that surrounds the narrative. I highly recommend this book!
One person found this helpful
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tommy
5.0 out of 5 stars dialogue of letters key to the story
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
The fool is not a fool. But to find out on the last page the meaning is boorish. All the story and premise were very believable. Until civil rights and the reason for war, KKK, and brutal aftermath of the war describe reconstruction and the horrific brutal rights of free black men was and is just not right. The main character is a shit to begin with. How he changes to a good guy suspect. The dialogue and the fool's letters were sincere. How the descriptions and general newsworthiness were in a different language that made sense for the times.
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robert ely
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story, poorly written
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
The story is quite interesting, if you can get by the stilted dialogue. The author seems to believe that you should use $25 dollar words when a nickewl one would be more understandable. His writing also gets relly tedious at times.
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Frequent Traveler
4.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable autobiographical account
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023
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A must-read for anyone who thinks they understand the period of reconstruction and the truth of the so-called Carpetbaggers. The continuing shame of the North is well-hidden in ignorance of these facts.
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Otto Jacob
5.0 out of 5 stars This first struck me as a superficial story, but ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
This first struck me as a superficial story, but I found it to be a lovely story looking into the minds and hearts of folks immersed in civil war times. The author has a dry sense of humor, sprinkled throughout. The fool actually turns out to be...
One person found this helpful
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gw
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2016
Verified Purchase
Poor
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