AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - FICTION
"Play for a Kingdom" 
By Thomas Dyja
This novel covers the Civil War Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania and the actions of the fictional unit the 14th Brooklyn. The men in this book seem all too real and the battle scenes are gripping, gory, and desperate as they must have truly been. There are no heroes in this novel, just scared men doing their jobs and trying to survive.
The main twist of the story is about two groups of pickets that meet and play base ball matches so that intelligence information can be passed. But a problem develops: as the men meet and play, they grow to respect and even like each other.
I usually read during lunch, and with this book, at times I had to set it aside in order to eat. Some of the passages in the book are just to graphic, realistic, and disturbing to contemplate while trying to enjoy a meal.
A fine first novel, and I look forward to future fiction from Thomas Dyja.
Reviewed by Kenneth S. Smith 2/14/2000
Available from:
A Harvest Book
Harcourt Brace & Company
6277 Sea Harbor Drive
Orlando, FL 32887-6277
