Novel / White Doves At Morning

White Doves at Morning (2002) is a historical novel by James Lee Burke set in Louisiana during the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Setting: Louisiana, 1861–1868.
Plot: The story follows Willie Burke (an Irish immigrant's son) and Robert Perry (from a wealthy, pro-secession family) as they experience the brutal realities of the Civil War.
Characters: Notable characters include Abigail Dowling (a Quaker abolitionist), Flower Jamison (an abused slave striving for a better life), and Rufus Atkins (a villainous plantation overseer).
Themes: The novel explores the human cost of war, the brutality of slavery, the aftermath of the Confederacy, and moral survival in a corrupt environment.
Style: Described as "luminous and brutal," it focuses on the chaotic, violent, and gritty experiences on the edges of major historical events.