"Thunder and Song: A Collection of Civil War Poetry" Author Talk

Join Stewart Bell Jr. Archives for our latest author talk, Thunder and Song: A Collection of Civil War Poetry, with Daniel Dorsch.

Inspiration for Thunder and Song began all the way back in 2010 when Daniel had the privilege of participating in the Living History Internship Program at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. That was when he found that the story of that brutal conflict from 1861-1865 contained not only tales of violence and tragedy, but also sentimentality and heroism. He wrote numerous poems between then and now, eventually adding up to enough for this, his first book. He has walked battlefields, read book after book, including several first-hand accounts, listened to recorded testimonials, and, of course, absorbed endless hours of documentaries and video essays to accumulate an in-depth knowledge of the subject. All of Daniel’s poems are based on real historic knowledge gathered over these last 15 years.  Come and hear those stories as Daniel relays them. 

Daniel Dorsch is a writer, poet, and teacher from West Virginia, where he lives with his wife Brandy and son Balin. Daniel received his Bachelor of the Arts Degree from West Virginia University and holds a Master’s Degree in Historical Studies from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.  He has always had a passion for writing. He has worked for multiple newspapers and online magazines. He also enjoys sharing his work at local open mic events.