By the Red Glare

"By the Red Glare establishes Mark Sibley-Jones as a fine new voice in southern fiction. With great skill and ample ambition, he gives us a deeply felt human story of love, labor, and liberty set against a moment of horrid and grandiose destruction, the origins and implications of which are contested in history and lore to this day—the burning of Columbia, South Carolina. Sibley-Jones's characters, both historical and invented, loom up as great symbols of the cruelty and courage inherent in the Civil War-torn South, but the truths we glean from their riveting story resonate still today, passing the test of historical fiction with high honors."—Pat Conroy

"Refreshingly, John Mark Sibley-Jones' novel is commendably devoid of the usual cliches, holds romanticized notions of the Civil War and antebellum life to scrutiny and invests its story with depth and richly drawn lead characters. . . . 'By the Red Glare' should appeal to a discerning reader of Civil War-era fiction and history, those drawn to anti-war fiction, and someone who expects more from a novel than stock characterizations and moonlight-and-magnolias mythos."—Charleston Post & Courier

"By the Red Glare does what only the best historical novels can do: it enables readers to feel more like participants than observers. Sibley-Jones has written a Civil War novel that deserves a wide and appreciative audience."—Ron Rash, author of Above the Waterfall

"Against a backdrop of widespread fear and sectional animosity, John Mark Sibley-Jones captures the dramatic world of Columbia on the cusp of its historic burning in this craftily written and thoroughly researched novel. In a seamless blending of art and history, Sibley-Jones combines a handful of Columbia's famous residents during the closing days of the Civil War with living, breathing imaginary characters who carry his complex and compelling narrative."—Marion B. Lucas, from the foreword

"Gritty, real, and at times horrifying, By the Red Glare is a must read for Civil War enthusiasts. Sherman may have burned down Columbia, but Sibley-Jones has resurrected the city in vivid detail."—George Singleton