Ralph Peters wins W.Y. Boyd Award 'for Excellence in Military Fiction'

CHICAGO — The novel "Darkness at Chancellorsville" by Ralph Peters, published by Forge Books, is the winner of the 2020 W. Y. Boyd Literary Award honoring the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. The $5,000 award and citation, donated by author W.Y. Boyd II, recognizes the service of American veterans and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction.  The author, Ralph Peters, is the first four-time winner of the W. Y. Boyd Literary Award

"Darkness at Chancellorsville" details the military action that took place at the Battle of Chancellorsville during April 30 to May 6, 1863, when the armies of the North and South met in bitter conflict.  Confederate General Robert E. Lee was outnumbered two to one but by the application of skilled military tactics soundly defeated General Joseph Hooker's Army of the Potomac. The cost of the battle was staggering in casualties, as the Confederates, who had 60,000 troops, suffered 13, 303 casualties, while the Union, who had 133,000 troops, had 17,197 casualties, which included 4,000 taken prisoner. The battle was also very costly to the Confederate Army, as one of their most aggressive field commanders; Lt. General Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by friendly fire.

The author’s retelling of the military campaign regarding the Battle of Chancellorsville is rich in detail and examines some of the personalities of the major and minor characters who took part in this bloody campaign. The description of the military tactics, military leadership and battles fought is outstanding.   Peters has the ability to write superb historical military fiction.  Perhaps his strongest trait is to bring the history and historical figures to life on the pages of his novels. The author has again made a major contribution to Military Fiction on the Civil War.  

The members of the W. Y. Boyd Jury selected "Darkness at Chancellorsville" for this year’s award. The annual award will be presented at the American Library Association at the Mid-Winter meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana in Jan. 24, 2021

Members of the W. Y. Boyd Literary Award Jury are the chair, Robert Schnare, Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island (retired), Maxine Reneker, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, (retired), Roberto C. Delgadillo, University of California, Davis, Andrew Mangels, West Lake Porter Public Library, Ronald Steensland, Lexington Public Library (retired) residing in Panama City, Florida, and Beth McGuire, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

The deadline for submission of books for the  W.Y. Boyd Literary Award is Dec. 1, 2020. Guidelines and applications are available on the ALA website.