Off My Rocker:

Recommendations from a Book Nut

Historical Reenactments
(September 2005)

William Wordworth wrote "The world is too much with us; late and soon …" We seek rest from it in various ways (let who will call it escape). One way is Historical Reenactment which makes it possible for us to go some when else for a short time. Historical Reenactment groups have sprung up all over to re-create various periods of history, particularly the Civil War. So popular is this pass-time that it has been incorporated into the plots of books.

Below is some fiction which deals with the phenomenon of Historical Reenactment.

LAST OF THE DIXIE HEROES, by Peter Abrahams

Up ‘til now Roy Hill’s life has gone just the way he hoped; he married the girl of his dreams, has a son he adores, and is in line for a big promotion. But recently its all been getting beyond his control.

When a friend joins a Civil War reenactment regiment, Roy is amused. The friend invites Roy to go along and he does in order to be polite. What he finds there is a home for his spirit; a place where he has some control again – until that begins to go (you should pardon the expression) South too. Roy becomes part of a hard-core splinter group who awaken old resentments and battles. His son has been taken hostage – are they serious or not? At the next reenactment will the muskets fire blanks or live ammunition?

CAT ON THE SCENT, by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown

The unquiet town of Crozet, Virginia is preparing for the reenactment of the battle of Oak Ridge. When the smoke clears, a body is left behind, riddled with bullet holes. The cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her feline and canine cohorts must sift through the clues – and human thick-headedness – to solve the crime.

MEET JOHN TROW, by Thomas Dyja

On the Yankee side of Civil War reenactment is Steven Armour assigned to act the part of Private John Trow of Connecticut. Steven just seems to sink into the part – the "Union Army" drills don’t baffle and befuddle him as they do the others, the men of the regiment become his friends, and he becomes increasingly "fond" of the Captain’s wife as his relationship with his own cools.

So completely does Steven immerse himself in the life of John Trow that even he begins to be alarmed and must ask himself if Trow’s ghost might be taking him over and whether he, Steven, really objects.

Other historical reenactment fiction for you reading pleasure are Tishomingo Blues, by Elmore Leonard, Muletrain to Maggody, by Joan Hess, Ghost Riders, by Sharyn McCrumb, and Losing Nelson, by Barry Unsworth