Blue Dawn Over Gettysburg:
Blue Dawn Over Gettysburg is written by Joe DeSantis a retired municipal parks superintendent with an interest in Gettysburg and a childhood fascination of vampires. I must admit that upon receipt of the book for review I had my misgivings. I wondered how vampires and Gettysburg could be intertwined to make for interesting reading. The author has done so! A relatively quick read, Blue Dawn Over Gettysburg moves along without getting too heavily involved with the inner workings of vampires and all that they are associated with. Nevertheless, there are some times when it is necessary for readers to read about the nocturnal machinations of vampires and how they go about their business. At those points in the book DeSantis is clear in his writing, and not overly dramatic. This is the story of Josh Larson, a college student who gets caught up in the web of vampires in Louisiana during the opening months of the Civil War. He is turned into a vampire by the plantation owner he stays with, and learns his trade from him. Discovering his “passion” (saving the Union from the Confederate States of America), Josh returns to Pennsylvania just in time to contribute to the Union victory in the battle of Gettysburg. There are some minor historical mistakes in the book. However, they do not detract in any appreciable manner from the story line. The plot is rather interesting, and the development of the fictional characters is well thought out and effective. Although Blue Dawn Over Gettysburg is not a book that every student of Gettysburg will need to have on their shelves, it is nonetheless an entertaining read. If you are interested in the alternate history genre, then this is a book that you will enjoy.
Reviewer: Jay Jorgensen is an attorney and municipal court judge in New Jersey. He is the author of Gettysburg's Bloody Wheatfield and The Wheatfield at Gettysburg: A Walking Tour. He also received his Master’s Degree in Military History - Civil War Studies from American Military University.
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Illustrated, softcover, 222 pp., 2008. Trafford Publishing, 2657 Wilfert Rd., Victoria, BC, Canada V9B 5Z3, $17.25 plus shipping.