Our Man in Charleston

Britain's Secret Agent in the Civil War South

By: Christopher Dickey

Narrated by: Antony Ferguson

The unlikely man at the roiling center of this intrigue was Robert Bunch, an American-born Englishman who had maneuvered his way to the position of British consul in Charleston, South Carolina, and grew to loathe slavery and the righteousness of its practitioners. Bunch used his unique perch and boundless ambition to become a key player, sending reams of dispatches to the home government and eventually becoming the Crown's best secret source on the Confederacy. But doing so required living a double life. To his Charleston neighbors, Bunch was increasingly a pillar of Southern society. But to the British government, he was a strident abolitionist, eviscerating Southern dissembling on plans regarding the slave trade.

Our Man in Charleston is a masterfully told story of an unknown crusader. Award-winning author Christopher Dickey locates Consul Bunch as the key figure among Englishmen in America. Determined to ensure the triumph of morality in the inevitable march to civil war, he helped determine the fate of a nation. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, Our Man in Charleston also captures a decisive moment in Anglo-American history: the pitched battle between those who wished to reopen the floodgates of bondage and misery and those who wished to dam the tide forever.

©2015 Original Material © 2015 by Christopher Dickey. By Arrangement with Crown, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Engaging, Worthwhile Perspective

The book is a though-provoking account of the American Civil War and slavery from the perspective of a (partial) outsider. It details quite effectively the balance required by a British consul in Charleston in maintaining workable relationships amongst people whose views on nearly every social issue were repugnant to him.

As an erstwhile resident of Charleston in the late 20th century, I recognised the same persistent contemptuous attitudes in that city, not only on race, but on class and gender. Echoes of that same supremacy and perverse perceived chivalric history of the ruling class in South Carolina still exist to this day, which continues to subjugate the poorer members of the society, black and white.

The only criticism I have, which perhaps can be forgiven due the the narrow scope of the subject, was the lack of nuance with regard to broader regional social attitudes towards the institution of slavery. It's true that most all of the individuals in the story are fairly well fleshed out. However, the generalised presentation of Northern vs. Southern attitudes was a bit flimsy, and could have done with a bit more depth. Additionally, the author seems to have either a naive or chauvinistic (perhaps with good reason), view of British attitudes of the peculiar institution which are not altogether authoritative. Again, this is perhaps merely a lack of nuance sacrificed for expediency. But it's nothing that detracted from the enjoyment of the story.

Reads like a gripping novel

What did you love best about Our Man in Charleston?

As someone who loves the South, American and British history, and is fascinated by the Civil War... it was almost like an exceedingly well written first person novel.

It has humor, plenty of tragedy, frustration, and ultimately, vindication.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The consul.

Have you listened to any of Antony Ferguson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The details of the Middle Passage are horrific.

Any additional comments?

Good use of your credit.

Textbook

Although the book was very interesting and full of great information , it didn’t capture my attention. I felt it read like a textbook.
I had just finished Ron Chernow’s, Grant, and maybe I was used to that style of writing.

One of the most interesting book I have read

What did you love best about Our Man in Charleston?

A quite different perspective on American history

What was one of the most memorable moments of Our Man in Charleston?

An understanding of a British view of the American south before the Civil War

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Truly horrendous descriptions of slave ships; one can hardly fathom the misery

Fascinating story, flawed presentation

This is a great story, and a great insight into the world of diplomacy in the 19th century. However, the author has an apparent determination to paint the British empire in such a glowing moral light that much of the drama and impact is lessened. Worth a listen but a more honest consideration of the complexities of British motives would make for a much more valuable stand alone resource.

Antebellum South Through Foreign Eyes

This book offers a great insight into the pre Civil War South as well as the war years. The focus of the book is the British Counsul in Charleston. Britain had a number of Consuls in the south during the war, offering invaluable insights into what was going on there and trying to get British subjects out of the Confederate army. I think it is a nice addition to any Civil War buffs library.

Outstanding account of events leading up to and of the Civil War!!!'

This is an interesting side.light of the day to day occurrences and how the outcome was affected.

British perspective on American Civil War

this book expanded my understanding of diplomacy and international relations, while also revisiting the antecedents to the American Civil War in new ways. well paced and very enjoyable.

Highly informative

A very engrossing book with a different perspective of the war. The interactions between the most influential people in the south as well as Britain is illuminating. The book expands the understanding of what happened in this time frame.

Not a spy novel

Like other readers I was expecting a bit more espionage based on the title and description, but this was much more about diplomacy and the British government's perspective of the Civil War. I enjoyed the unique angle on Charleston and the Confederacy this book offered and would suggest it to any history buff. I learned a lot of new details about the war.