A Literary Road Trip is a chance for me to look closely at the authors who claim Kansas as home. [For why I chose Kansas, visit this blog post.] There are so many wonderful authors from the state that it makes me proud to feature them.
The name Max McCoy comes up quite often around Kansas literary circles. In fact he was the recent keynote speaker at the Kansas Writer’s Club. Mr. McCoy has won awards for both his novels and investigative reporting. In addition, Max McCoy writes screenplays and has produced his own independent film, Spoils of War, based on his own stories. And, if that’s not enough, he also teaches journalism at Emporia State University.
When I started looking for one of Max McCoy’s works to read, I didn’t have to go far. My husband is an avid fan of Westerns, and he was able to make some recommendations. I chose one of Max McCoy’s earlier Westerns, one set during an important part of Kansas’ history.
Sons of Fire
by Max McCoy
Double D Western by DoubleDay, 1993
My Rating: A
In the area along the Kansas-Missouri border in the 1860′s it was next to impossible to remain neutral. Citizens were forced to declare their allegiance to either the Union government or the Confederacy. (Kansas was officially Union and Missouri was officially a Confederate state.) Sometimes events forced a person to choose. The decisions made during this time could also split a family. We’ll see all these forces at work in Max McCoy’s Sons of Fire.
The Fenn Family were hardworking farmers living on the Missouri side, about a mile from the Kansas border. The oldest son, Frank, was, along with his wife, a strong abolitionist. At the beginning of the war he felt it was his duty to join the Union army [in St. Louis]. He left his two brothers, Zachary and Patrick to continue working the farm, along with his dad and his Uncle Fitz. Also at home was Frank’s wife Jenny and his sister Caitlin.
During the years Frank was away conditions in the area changed. A Union army group from the Kansas side, called the Jayhawkers, periodically swept into the Missouri area to steal horses, food, money and kill anyone who tried to stop them. One day they tried to steal Zachary’s horse and he was beaten and left for dead.
That experience caused Zachary to choose sides and he joined with the legendary William Quantrill who was anti-union. The youngest brother Patrick, knowing he was going to be forced to fight for one group or the other, ran away to the Western mountains to take his changes as a mountain man.
Eventually, the only ones left at the farm are Uncle Fitz, Caitlin, Jenny and her baby, and Sarah, Zachary’s fiance. The women and the old man do not escape the terrors of this homegrown war. This war was indeed a personal war for everyone along the Kansas-Missouri border. As we see with the Fenn family, it was very difficult to hold a family together.
This was a solidly written book. The characters were well developed and had my total sympathy, no matter what side they chose. Max McCoy took me inside an average family and made me see how horrid the Civil War was on individuals and on families. Although I knew the history of this area there were several historical facts that were new to me. Highly recommended.
[Source: the public library]
Boy, I can see my education in history was totally lacking. I don’t even think of Kansas and Missouri when I think of the Civil War. This book sounds like one that could teach me a lot. Thanks for your review.
I’m wondering if the name Caitlin was actually a name in use in the 1860′s?
This time period is one that I have always found very interesting. Sounds like a book that I would enjoy..great review!
What a great recommendation. The Civil War is heartbreaking to read about because of what neighbors and friends had to do to and for each other. I’m with Kathy in that I never think of Kansas when I think of the war, so this was a great literary road trip
I’ve read a lot about the Civil war so I’m aware of Bleeding Kansas. Sounds like a book that Mr. BFR would like.