This is the true story of my Great-Grandfather George Calloway, a slave in Cleveland, Tennessee, before and during the Civil War. It is a tale of determination, perseverance, and achievement. It is written as historical fiction, based on George’s life, and stories I heard growing up. More fact than fiction, George’s story has also been my journey, grappling with the humiliation of slavery; sorting through the many myths and false modern-day narratives, and discovering a long lost relative, I found that to understand America, you must first understand the Civil War. George was then, and remains, a hero of our family.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: This work of historical fiction, drawn from real-life circumstances, effectively brings the Civil War-era to life. The author's deep attention to detail and exploration of significant historical events points to extensive research as well as a fresh imagination.
Prose: The prose is clear and effective, infused with expressive dialogue and riveting details.
Originality: Historical fiction set during the Civil War is a familiar category. Calloway brings a degree of freshness to the topic through his familial connection to the subject. Calloway also excels at providing realistic, deeply painful details relating to enslavement.
Character/Execution: Both George and Thom are strongly fleshed out characters, and several other peripheral characters are also thoroughly explored. Calloway also populates the novel with historically authentic background characters.
Date Submitted: April 06, 2023
“Calloway’s elegant prose effectively captures the tension and textures of the period… he shows himself to be such a talented writer of historical fiction that the biographical element of the work barely registers.”
“This book uses stunning and gripping prose to take readers on an unforgettable experience into a time and place that we must never forget...” 5 stars
“David Calloway has written a powerful and moving story… His writing style draws in the reader from the first page…not easily forgotten.” 4.5 stars
