Mary Johnston's The Long Roll is a sweeping Civil War chronicle centered on Confederate operations under Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson, from the Shenandoah Valley outward. Through marches, skirmishes, and set-piece battles, the novel marries panoramic strategy to granular textures of camp routine, terrain, courier work, and nerves under fire. Its disciplined, cadenced prose blends nineteenth-century romance with early twentieth-century documentary realism. Published in 1911 amid a culture of commemoration, it stands between Lost Cause memorial writing and modern military fiction, faithful to movements and maps while unmistakably Confederate in vantage. A Virginian by birth, Johnston drew on family recollections, veterans' testimony, official reports, and on-the-ground study of battlefields. Already famous for To Have and To Hold, she pivoted here from swashbuckling romance to rigorous campaign narrative, assembling soldiers and civilians to examine discipline, faith, loyalty, and fatigue. Her focus on Jackson's tempo and staff work reflects archival immersion and intimate knowledge of the Valley's geography. Readers of Civil War history and historical fiction will find The Long Roll both exacting and engrossing. It illuminates how strategy, landscape, and morale intertwined, and offers a vital document of Southern remembrance-rewarding scholars, students, and general readers seeking disciplined narrative power. Quickie Classics summarizes timeless works with precision, preserving the author's voice and keeping the prose clear, fast, and readable-distilled, never diluted. Enriched Edition extras: Introduction · Synopsis · Historical Context · Brief Analysis · 4 Reflection Q&As · Editorial Footnotes.

Mary Johnston (1870-1936) was an American novelist and women's rights advocate, renowned for her detailed historical fiction and vivid storytelling. Born in Buchanan, Virginia, Johnston grew up amidst the post-Civil War era that heavily influenced her writing. 'The Long Roll' is one of her most celebrated works, meticulously chronicling the experiences of Confederate general Stonewall Jackson during the American Civil War. This book, along with its sequel 'Cease Firing,' demonstrates Johnston's meticulous research and her ability to bring historical figures to life with psychological depth and narrative flair. Johnston's writing is characterized by its rich historical context and often revolves around themes of honor, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of war. With a body of work that includes over 20 novels, Johnston was not only a prolific writer but also a progressive voice for her time, advocating for women's suffrage and equality. Her literary style combines romanticism with realism, allowing her to captivate readers with both emotional narratives and an authentic portrayal of historical events. Johnston's contribution to literature transcends mere storytelling; she provided cultural commentary and historical understanding through her evocative and educational prose.