A Separate Country by Robert Hicks

This book is a follow-up for a character in Hicks' earlier novel, The Widow of the South," which I loved. A minor character in the previous book, Eli, who lost his family in Franklin, TN, during the Civil War battle there has made his way to New Orleans. However, he isn't really the main character in this story either. He's more of a narrator.

The story is about Gen'l. John Bell Hood, CSA, his wife and oldest daughter, and his wife's childhood friends, a dwarf, a priest, and a colored man who appears white. Then there are Eli and his girlfriend, a prostitute. Actually New Orleans is as much a character in the book as any of these people and that's what drew me in and held me. Nineteenth century New Orleans was a fascinating place that it was fun to learn about. Its mystery reminded me of Savannah, GA, as depicted in The Garden of Good and Evil.

The book is told in alternating chapters by Hood, his wife, and Eli Griffin. As in The Widow of the South, this is an effective way to tell the story. Telling it just from the point of view of one of them would be highly unsatisfactory. However, this book is still confusing and just plain strange. It's also too long. Hicks dwells on Hood's guilt about the men who died in the charge he ordered at the battle in Franklin, TN, and how he changes from a crippled military man trying to retain his discipline and bearing in the face of physical disability and the damage to his reputation into a man who loves his wife and family, doesn't care about money or standing in the community, and selflessly gives of himself and his income to help people struck down by yellow fever.

His wife is a Creole born in New Orleans. Her childhood experiences make up one of the best parts of the book. Eli is just learning about the city and its people and he works in an ice factory, so he has a completely different point of view.

I liked the book and yet I didn't like it. I was mesmerized by it, couldn't put it down, and yet finished it unsatisfied. Despite all the internalizing by the main characters, I don't really know why they did what they did. I must admit I'll be thinking about this one for a while but more than that I cannot say.

Review: The Widow of the South

This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while patiently awaiting the day when my mood would dictate reading it. Jeez Louise, what was I waiting for? This is the best novel I've read in years.

I love novels based on real people and real events. The Widow of the South was a real person, Carrie McGavock of Franklin, Tennessee whose large home was near the scene of the battle of Franklin. I knew quite a bit about the battle because Confederate General Patrick Cleburne died there and I had read his biography several years ago. Since I'm a Civil War buff, this was right up my alley.

Apparently this was author Robert Hicks' first novel. I certainly hope it isn't his last. He tells the story through the viewpoint of several characters, one to a chapter. That makes it sound messy and disconnected, but it isn't, and actually I can't think of a better way than to see it through each person's eyes and thoughts.

The day of the battle the McGavock house was commandeered as a hospital and for the next few days and weeks life was a blur of caring for horribly wounded Confederate soldiers. The household linens and even underwear were ripped up for bandages. Carrie's husband John organized hauling water to the house and carrying dead men and amputated limbs outside. There they were stacked like so much lumber awaiting burial or removal. The survivors later referred to Carrie as an angel for the way she comforted and cared for them; they in turn changed her life forever.

Each character is drawn so beautifully that when I came to the final chapter where there were pictures of them, I knew who they were without the captions. Carrie is the main character of course, but we also get to know Mariah, her slave since childhood and lifelong best friend. I'm not sure whether one character in the story is real or not. Carrie is fascinated by him and falls in love. As a respectable southern woman she remains true to her husband, but she spends many hours with Zachariah Cashwell and through their talks, they both learn much about themselves and life.

I won't tell more of the story because I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't read it, but I do urge you to read this book if you haven't already discovered it. This is a treasure.