Set during the greatest epoch in american history the civil war white doves at morning is a historical novel that depicts the first day of the bloody battle of shiloh at pittsburg landing near savannah tenn. White doves at morning is a historical fiction novel published in 2002 and set around new iberia louisiana during the civil war of course since it occurs during the civil war it does not include burkes reknowned dave robicheaux instead this book focuses on burkes ancestry. White doves at morning a riveting evocation of the civil war drawn from james lee burkes true family history for years critics have acclaimed the power of james lee burkes writing the luminosity of his prose the psychological complexity of his characters the richness of his landscapes. Set during the greatest epoch in american history the civil war white doves at morning is a historical novel that depicts the first day of the bloody battle of shiloh at pittsburg landing near savannah tenn. As in all of burkes writings white doves at morning is full of wonderful colorful unforgettable villains some like clay hatcher are pure white trash considered the lowest of the low they