Miracle At St. Anna: Summary and book reviews of Miracle At St. Anna by James McBride, plus links to an excerpt from Miracle At St. Anna and a biography of James McBride.

James McBride’s powerful memoir, The Color of Water, was a publishing phenomenon, spending more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list and becoming required reading in high schools and colleges across the country. Now, in his long-awaited second book, McBride turns his highly acclaimed talent as a storyteller to fiction. Based on the historical incident of an unspeakable massacre at the site of St. Anna Di Stazzema, a small village in Tuscany, and on the experiences of the famed Buffalo soldiers from the 92nd Division in Italy during World War II, Miracle of St. Anna is a singular evocation of war, cruelty, passion, and heroism. It is the story of four American Negro soldiers, a band of partisans, and an Italian boy who encounter a miracle---though perhaps the true miracle lies in themselves. Traversing class, race, and geography, Miracle at St. Anna is above all a hymn to the brotherhood of man and the power to do good that lives in each of us. It reveals to us a little-known but fascinating moment in history through the eyes and imagination of a gifted writer. Like The Color of Water, James McBride’s stunning first novel will change the way we perceive ourselves and our world.

Media Reviews

Book Magazine - Stephanie Foote McBride's new novel is a lyrical rendering of a few days in the lives of four members of the 92nd Division of Buffalo Soldiers in World War II, who find themselves behind enemy lines after one of their number rescues an Italian child.   Publishers Weekly A powerful and emotional novel of black American soldiers fighting the German army in the mountains of Italy around the village of St. Anna of Stazzema in December 1944. Through his sharply drawn characters, McBride exposes racism, guilt, courage, revenge and forgiveness, with the soldiers confronting their own fear and rage in surprisingly personal ways at the decisive moment in their lives.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by Anonymous
what an amazing, gripping work. everyone should read. each character is so detailed and skillfully drawn. Ther's just enough visual description, without detracting from the story or slowing it. I'm looking forward to McBrides next book.

Rated of 5 by vivian jones
simply superb!

Review (not rated) by kony

Jams McBride knew his mother was different. But he asked about it, she'd simply say, 'I'm light-skinned. Later he wondere if he was different, too , and asked his mother if he was black or white. "knon of you'r besnes ".
The...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Julia Calenda

James Mc Bride's, Miracle at St Anna is so compelling and moving it is hard to know if you should be marvelling at his emotive words or weeping at the empathy and raw emotion that jumps from each and every page.

To begin this book, is...   Read More

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Books with similar themes

• Novels
  
• Europe 
  
• Italy 
  
• 1940s & '50s 
  
• 1st Books/1st Novels 
  
• African American Authors & Leads 
  
• In Time of War & The Effects of War