DANBURY, Conn., July 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- It is easy to stand in the present and condemn the actions of those whose time has long past. In his new book, The Ghosts of Antietam (now available through AuthorHouse), John M. Grissmer rewrites the events of a tragic chapter in America's history and offers a new perspective on an infamous man of war.
The Ghosts of Antietam recounts a different version of the Civil War era through the eyes of one of the most scorned men of that time. George B. McClellan, often portrayed today as a coward and traitor, is the focus of this "adventure in conflicting realities," as Grissmer describes it.
The book begins with a jolt as President Lincoln meets an untimely death, not from a gunshot wound but a fall from his horse. In this "alternative history," Hannibal Hamlin steps out of his shadowy role as vice president, assumes full presidential power and, with McClellan's help, proceeds to end the threat of state secession without sparking a war.
As the story continues, McClellan enjoys quite a different path through life than the one for which he is commonly known today. However, a supernatural event forces the general to deal with the bloody reality of the Civil War he managed to escape. Throughout the book, Grissmer weaves fact and fiction into a vivid and creative historical tapestry.
An entertaining and intelligent novel, The Ghosts of Antietam raises thought-provoking questions as to whether or not the Civil War was truly inevitable and examines the fairness of history's treatment of McClellan.
Grissmer is a playwright and composer. He has also worked as an actor, drama professor, film producer, director, U. S. Army officer and business executive. His musical play, "The Perfect Game," a depiction of Dr. James Naismith's invention of basketball, was produced for the Xavier University theater in Cincinnati in 2001. Grissmer is seeking to arrange an initial workshop production of his latest comedy, "How to Write an Irish Play." He currently lives in Ridgefield, Conn., and is a member of the Dramatists' Guild. The Ghosts of Antietam is his first novel.
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