To describe Hallam’s War as an interesting, substantive Civil War novel is to explain both its strengths and weaknesses. Elisabeth Payne Rosen writes well, knows her subject matter, and has crafted a story that explores the ambiguity of racial and political issues at the center of the Civil War. Through her efforts, the book rises above the requisite hoop skirts, hollerin’, and hacksaws of all Civil War novels, but not by enough to transcend the genre and become a novel of general appeal.

My full review is here: http://rosecityreader.blogspot.com/2008/06/review-of-day-hallams-war.html