Wow! eBook
Slant of Light: A Novel of Utopian Dreams and Civil War (The Daybreak Series)
Author(s): Steve Wiegenstein (Author)
- Publisher: Amphorae Publishing Group, LLC
- Publication Date: 13 April 2012
- Language: English
- Print length: 308 pages
- ISBN-10: 9780982880661
- ISBN-13: 0982880669
Book Description
Set during the brink of the Civil War, this beautifully written novel traces James Turner, a charming, impulsive writer and lecturer; Charlotte, his down-to-earth bride; and Cabot, an idealistic Harvard-educated abolitionist as they are drawn together in a social experiment deep in the Missouri Ozarks. Inspired by utopian dreams of building a new society, Turner is given a tract of land to found the community of Daybreak: but not everyone involved in the project is a willing partner, and being the leader of a remote farming community isn’t the life Turner envisioned. Charlotte, confronted with the hardships of rural life, must mature quickly to deal with the challenges of building the community while facing her husband’s betrayals and her growing attraction to Cabot. In turn, Cabot struggles to reconcile his need to leave Daybreak and join the fight against slavery with his desire to stay near the woman he loves. As the war draws ever closer, the utopians try to remain neutral and friendly to all but soon find neutrality is not an option. Ultimately, each member of Daybreak must take a stand–both in their political and personal lives.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“That remarkable novel that not only embeds us in a bygone time and place, but also wakens us to a wide and presently shared dawn of love, violence, frailty, and possibility.” –Steve Yates, author, Morkan’s Quarry
“Will appeal to fans of both historical fiction and nonfiction–or to anyone who appreciates a strong story told with a true and honest voice. Author Steve Wiegenstein carries us back to a complex time and invites us to share in the tale of a resilient people who are mightily challenged, yet struggle to overcome all.” –Dianna Graveman, editor, Missouri Writers’ Guild, and author, Images of America series
About the Author
Steve Wiegenstein is the author of Slant of Light (2012) and This Old World (2014). Slant of Light was the runner-up for the David J. Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction, and This Old World was a shortlisted finalist for the M.M. Bennetts Award in Historical Fiction. Steve grew up in the Missouri Ozarks and worked there as a newspaper reporter before entering the field of higher education. He now lives in Columbia, Missouri. Visit him online at https://stevewiegenstein.wordpress.com/.
