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The Photographer's Boy: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Stephen Bates (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 139 ratings
A set of antique photographic plates is the key to uncovering hidden truths of the Civil War, Great Depression, and 9/11 eras in this “unflinching” novel (Publishers Weekly).

A teenage boy and his grandfather travel across America to attend that last great reunion of Civil War veterans at Gettysburg in 1938, where secrets and lies are revealed about the old man’s past. Perhaps he was not the hero his grandson thought, but he still has a valuable treasure to reveal, which will shed intriguing light on the war and his part in it.

Interweaving three periods of crisis in American history—the Civil War, the Depression, and 9/11—The Photographer’s Boy explores the power of photography and journalism to inform or mislead; raises questions about love; and offers “an unflinching but sympathetic, often touching, look at the comforting fictions people wrap themselves in to protect themselves from the cold of reality” (Publishers Weekly).
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  1. Print length
    350 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Open Road Media
  4. Publication date
    July 1, 2014
  5. File size
    2.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen Bates is a British journalist and author who has been fascinated by the American Civil War and the pioneering Victorian photographers for many years, and this story combines his two enthusiasms. He lives in England but knows the US well. This is his first novel.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00L5M8U36
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media; Reprint edition (July 1, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 350 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 139 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
139 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical novel engaging and well-written, with one review noting it's a great read for those interested in history and photography. Moreover, the book features well-developed characters and maintains a steady pace, with one customer highlighting its portrayal of early photojournalism. However, the interest level receives mixed reactions, with some finding it too tedious.

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33 customers mention "Readability"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable, with one customer noting it's a well-written historical novel.

"...Easy read, interesting story and not a waste of my time...." Read more

"...A very good book that's holds the reader's interest from beginning to end. Highly recommended." Read more

"I really enjoyed the subject. It was something I had never thought about except for being familiar with the name Brady as THE Civil War photographer...." Read more

"the story line is very interesting and is presented in a clever way...." Read more

28 customers mention "Story quality"28 positive0 negative

Customers find this historical fiction novel engaging and thoroughly enjoyable, with interesting history lessons woven throughout the narrative.

"...Easy read, interesting story and not a waste of my time...." Read more

"Mr. Bates masterfully created an intriguing story covering three different time periods...." Read more

"...The story played out very well and I enjoyed most of the characters...." Read more

"the story line is very interesting and is presented in a clever way...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book.

"...The varied characters within the story and their relationships makes for an outstanding book...." Read more

"...The story played out very well and I enjoyed most of the characters...." Read more

"...In spite of that criticism, I loved the characters, and the story. And I always enjoy reading about the events during the Civil War." Read more

"...a fan of stories about the Civil War, but this one intrigued me because of the characters and the intertwining of their lives. I also wanted..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pace"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting how the narrative moves smoothly from one generation to another.

"Thoroughly enjoyed this story. The movement from one generation to another was smooth and kept the book moving at a great pace...." Read more

"Slow moving. Unusual to have a British author write about the Civil War and seeing all the strange spelling of words." Read more

"slow but educational read..." Read more

3 customers mention "Photography"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's photography content, with one review highlighting its portrayal of early photojournalism and iconic images from American history.

"...work with National Archives I have seen many of these iconic images from American history...." Read more

"...read because it provided history about the Civil War and photography during that time.. Must be interesting to be a photographer today and know what..." Read more

"A wonderful glimpse into the early photojournalist and what it was like to be a pioneer in the field of photography." Read more

6 customers mention "Interest"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's interest, with some finding it engaging while others describe it as tedious.

"Intricately woven story line which keeps your interest throughout . Well written and an easy read. A love story coupled with mystery and history." Read more

"...As it was written, it was too long and at times way too tedious. It almost felt like the author was required to write a specific number of words...." Read more

"...I read a lot of books, most are soon forgotten, but this one stayed on my mind. Very good read!" Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. it was a little hard to get into,due to the story alternating between the present and the past...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • K in TX
    4.0 out of 5 stars I think you will like this one!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book a lot, glad I read it. When you think about war, you begin to wonder who takes those pictures of the aftermath and how does it effect their lives. I think this is the 3rd book involving the Civil War that that I have read. I loved the tangled lives in this book. It was one of those books I always smiled as I settled back into my pillows and opened my laptop for another chapter. Easy read, interesting story and not a waste of my time. Sometimes when I look at the front of my books in my Kindle library it is hard to remember what certain books were about. This one will stick with me. Good job by Stephen Bates.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Bill Graham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Bates brings history to life in "The Photographer's Boy."
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Mr. Bates masterfully created an intriguing story covering three different time periods. The manner in which he brought these together resulted in an excellent book. "The Photographer's Boy" vividly reflects the tragedy of war and the scars that remain with the participants for years after. The varied characters within the story and their relationships makes for an outstanding book. A very good book that's holds the reader's interest from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jan Joslin
    3.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed the subject
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed the subject. It was something I had never thought about except for being familiar with the name Brady as THE Civil War photographer. The story played out very well and I enjoyed most of the characters. I thought the New Yorkers were too naïve and self-centered and I never expected them to fold at the end. Maybe I've seen too many movies with happy endings!
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  • novembergray
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great History, Interesting presentation, Good organization and Fair editing
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    the story line is very interesting and is presented in a clever way. However, the author's use of unnecessarily obscure or dated words does distract from the reading experience. In this case, I believe the story called for "straight forward" language. The prof reading was not great. e.g. "babby" for baby'.The author has enviable talent and potential. I will read other selections as he writes and will follow his progress. The errors I mentioned here were annoying to me but would never stop me from reading his works, past, present or future.
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  • Darcie Duranceau
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Historical Fiction for Photography Lovers
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyed this story. The movement from one generation to another was smooth and kept the book moving at a great pace. I always appreciate a well-written historical fiction, but I also found myself intrigued with the part that photography played in both the war and this story. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the reader back in time. I'll be looking at more Stephen Bates titles very soon.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Diane Franklin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I liked how the story had 3 narratives involving mainly 2 families, how thru time these families and characters were bound. Toward the end, I felt the story became rushed and in some ways predictable. In spite of that criticism, I loved the characters, and the story. And I always enjoy reading about the events during the Civil War.
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  • n2silver
    3.0 out of 5 stars The Photographers Boy
    Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Intricately woven story line which keeps your interest throughout . Well written and an easy read. A love story coupled with mystery and history.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Connie Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars I so enjoyed this book
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I so enjoyed this book! The descriptions of how they actually took photographs back then was interesting. Going back and forth thru the different time periods keeps you reading to know what happens to those particular characters. A lot of research went into this book. I had to go online to look at the actual pictures of the Civil War reunion that was such a pivotal part of the story. I read a lot of books, most are soon forgotten, but this one stayed on my mind. Very good read!
    8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • pearl
    5.0 out of 5 stars フィクション，ノンフィク ション，いずれの面からも，なかなか面白かった
    Reviewed in Japan on August 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    アメリカ南北戦争に参戦したものの，ひょんな事から戦争写真家の助手となっ
    た主人公．戦争当時(1863年)，戦後50年に国をあげて催された軍人の同窓会，
    いわゆるGettysburg Reunion(1913年)に出かけて行く主人公，主人公が残した
    家をたまたま買い取った現代の若夫婦(2012年)，この3つの時代を行き来しながら
    物語が進む．

    著者の後書きにあるように，時代考証はかなりきちんと行われていて，多くの
    エピソードが史実に基づいている．萌芽期にあった当時の写真技術，20世紀
    初頭のアメリカの田舎町の様子なども体験できて，フィクション，ノンフィク
    ション，いずれの面からも，なかなか面白かった．
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