A few reviews of my books
Fire under the Sea
"Must reading. Joseph Cone's writing is much like John McPhee's work at its best." Prof. George Somero
“A high-velocity intellectual adventure." The San Francisco Chronicle
A Common Fate
“A dazzling achievement. . . Cone is a marvelous writer with a galvanizing tale to tell . . . .A Common Fate is an inspirational book because it shows that committed individuals can make a difference. . . .” The Oregonian newspaper
A Man Named Daniel
"I enjoyed the details provided in this book so much that I ordered 9 more for other family members. The carefully cited mix of scholarship and fiction makes for a very informative and interesting read." An Amazon reviewer (5 stars)
“I enjoyed both the story and your writing enormously and gave copies of your book to two members of the family. Thank you very much indeed for enriching my appreciation for my family history. . . ." Ann Bucklin, PhD.
An Indiana Private in the Civil War
"This account of an Indiana man's Civil War service is a treasure. The story of Patrick Boyle is brought to life by family documents and photos placed in the larger context of military history. I also enjoyed reading the history of his wife's life on the family homestead in the mid-1800's. Life was not easy!" An Amazon reviewer (5 stars)
Love Despite the Plague
"A delightful, engaging, wonderfully readable rendition of four of Boccaccio's tales, which were told during a time of plague. Don't overlook Cone's introduction, which illuminates and gives context to Boccaccio--it will make you want to read all Boccaccio's tales." An Amazon reviewer (5 stars)
Verdi's Dream
“You have done a very fine job in depicting a challenging and complex subject. The drama is well wrought, using the Requiem as its architecture; and it is impressively researched. I have no difficulty with some of the imagined characters and situations, for after all, this is a form of theatrical expression and not designed to be a documentary, no matter how factual much of this is." - Prof. James Keolker
"I liked your title, Verdi's Dream, which states so unequivocally that within limits you have imagined what people say and think. And I liked very much the focus held throughout on the Requiem. That held all together and built tension. . . . At the end I was gripped, reading on and on." - George Martin (Verdi: His Music, Life and Times)
"Must reading. Joseph Cone's writing is much like John McPhee's work at its best." Prof. George Somero
“A high-velocity intellectual adventure." The San Francisco Chronicle
A Common Fate
“A dazzling achievement. . . Cone is a marvelous writer with a galvanizing tale to tell . . . .A Common Fate is an inspirational book because it shows that committed individuals can make a difference. . . .” The Oregonian newspaper
A Man Named Daniel
"I enjoyed the details provided in this book so much that I ordered 9 more for other family members. The carefully cited mix of scholarship and fiction makes for a very informative and interesting read." An Amazon reviewer (5 stars)
“I enjoyed both the story and your writing enormously and gave copies of your book to two members of the family. Thank you very much indeed for enriching my appreciation for my family history. . . ." Ann Bucklin, PhD.
An Indiana Private in the Civil War
"This account of an Indiana man's Civil War service is a treasure. The story of Patrick Boyle is brought to life by family documents and photos placed in the larger context of military history. I also enjoyed reading the history of his wife's life on the family homestead in the mid-1800's. Life was not easy!" An Amazon reviewer (5 stars)
Love Despite the Plague
"A delightful, engaging, wonderfully readable rendition of four of Boccaccio's tales, which were told during a time of plague. Don't overlook Cone's introduction, which illuminates and gives context to Boccaccio--it will make you want to read all Boccaccio's tales." An Amazon reviewer (5 stars)
Verdi's Dream
“You have done a very fine job in depicting a challenging and complex subject. The drama is well wrought, using the Requiem as its architecture; and it is impressively researched. I have no difficulty with some of the imagined characters and situations, for after all, this is a form of theatrical expression and not designed to be a documentary, no matter how factual much of this is." - Prof. James Keolker
"I liked your title, Verdi's Dream, which states so unequivocally that within limits you have imagined what people say and think. And I liked very much the focus held throughout on the Requiem. That held all together and built tension. . . . At the end I was gripped, reading on and on." - George Martin (Verdi: His Music, Life and Times)