American Spirit

Title: American Spirit: A Story of American Individualism
Author: Roger Smith
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
ISBN: 1475965273
Pages: 340
Genre: Historical Fiction

Reviewed by: Dan Macintosh

Read Book Review

Pacific Book Review

The greatest benefit provided by Roger Smith’s novel, American Spirit: A Story of American Individualism, is how it paints a rarely seen portrait of the Southern side of the Civil War. This troubling chapter in the American story is oftentimes illustrated via a simplistic, broad brush where the South is viewed as only fighting to retain the economic and also highly immoral slavery system. But Smith, who includes both blood relatives and actual historical figures, as well fictitious character representative of this pivotal historic period in his story, gives us a far more complicated as well as fairer account of U.S. history during these important days.

The book’s North Carolina main setting is peopled with primarily men from all sides of the political spectrum. Hiram Smith, for example, is one of Smith’s own relatives that finds himself working as a shoemaker during the Civil War. He’s a principled man, dedicated to providing for his family, while also contributing to the war effort by making shoes for Confederate soldiers. However, in a world where many families in his mountain town have lost sons to that terrible war, he discovers he must literally hide for his life by living in a mountain cave. Vigilantes roamed the South looking for deserters and avoiders at that time, killing many on sight. Yet some of these cave dwellers – like Smith – were unquestionably upstanding citizens who were just trying to do the right things and make a living.

We also learn from Roger Smith’s story that many in the South at that time were as morally opposed to slavery as Lincoln’s Unionists. It was mainly the wealthy Southerners, with a big financial stake in keeping the slavery system in place, which was mostly behind the fight against the North. However, the middle class in the South actually had more to gain from ending slavery, as this would open up more economic opportunities for them. If you don’t read books like Smith’s you might simply assume that everybody in the South at the time was a racist and a bigot. Not so, as is revealed.

Smith’s book traces his family all the way back to Scotland. It goes from there to Ireland, and eventually lands in the American South. As Smith sees it, his family is comprised of stand-up American citizens that believed in not just the American dream, but also some of the greatest American ideals, including individualism.

Another huge part of the American spirit, especially those traced back through Smith’s family tree, is religious faith. Smith begins many of his book chapters with Bible verses, as well as other famous quotations. The characters in Smith’s story also do their best to live up to the ideals of their Christian faith. One particularly noteworthy character, Sadie Wakin, evolved from an evil temptress, to a repentant believer during a few memorable pages of the book. It was wise to include Wakin’s story, along with those of the Smith clan, because Christianity is not merely a body comprised of family ties; it’s also a movement that embraces sinners – like Wakin, who turned away from their sins, and toward Christ.

The Civil War is an ugly period in American history, it’s true. Uglier still, are the many times inaccurate recounts of the war were told. Roger Smith American Spirit: A Story of American Individualism has taken a giant step in setting the record straight. Reading this book will open your mind, hopefully, and cause you to think twice whenever somebody sells the South short for its actions during the Civil War. Folks like Hiram Smith were forced to live in a world where their motives were constantly questioned and their integrity oftentimes went unnoticed. This fine work helps restore Hiram Smith’s character, and indirectly many others like him. Thus, this is much more than just another war story.