The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites, Paperback, 9781451629521 | Buy online at Moby the Great
New
Check delivery options

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

Forced into marriage with a wealthy man after her Southern family is rendered destitute by the Civil War, Augusta becomes a widow a decade later and finds her circumstances hinging on a missing package in a community torn by racial prejudice, violence, and disease.

Read more

Description

This "gloriously gothic"* novel about a young widow trying to survive in the violent world of Reconstruction Alabama is "history with a heartbeat, lovingly described and yet a true page turner" (Providence Journal).Brimming with atmosphere and edgy suspense, The Rebel Wife presents a young widow trying to survive in the violent world of Reconstruction Alabama, where the old gentility masks continuing violence fueled by hatred, treachery, and still powerful secrets. Augusta Branson was born into antebellum Southern nobility during a time of wealth and prosperity, but now she is left standing in the ashes of a broken civilization. When her scalawag husband dies suddenly of a mysterious illness, she must fend for herself and her young son. Slowly she begins to wake to the reality of her new life: her social standing is stained by her marriage; she is alone and unprotected in a community that is being destroyed by racial prejudice and violence; the fortune she thought she would inherit does not exist; and the deadly fever that killed her husband is spreading fast. Augusta needs someone to trust if she and her son are to escape. As she summons the courage to cross the boundaries of hate, The Rebel Wife presents an unforgettable heroine for our time.

Read more

Critic Reviews

“"Vivid and beautiful . . . action-packed . . . An ambitious novel, one that hinges on research, insight, and decency." - The Virginian-Pilot”

"History with a heartbeat, lovingly described and yet a true page turner."--"Providence Journal

"


"A richly detailed portrait of Reconstruction-era Alabama. . . . Nimble, engrossing . . . builds to a vivid climax."--"Publishers Weekly

"


"Multi-layered and rich with historic detail. Refracted through the prism of one very determined woman, this gripping suspense story is about nothing less than complicated truths and harsh realities."--TucsonCitizen.com


"The best historical novel is the one we forget is a historical novel . . . Taylor M. Polites pulls off just such sleight of hand in his gloriously gothic, moody post-Civil War novel, "The Rebel Wife" . . . an expertly packaged history lesson about the massive social and economic upheaval that was Reconstruction, where fortunes changed hands, the word 'freedom' lost its meaning, and Yankees weren't the only enemies of 'the sons and daughters of the defeated South.' . . . [S]plendidly researched . . . "The Rebel Wife" offers a valuable new perspective.""--Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"

Read more

About the Author

Taylor M. Polites received an MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University, where he was awarded the 2009 Norris Church Mailer Fellowship. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Read more

Product Details

Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Published
4th September 2012
Format
Paperback
Pages
320
ISBN
9781451629521

Returns

This item is eligible for simple returns within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. See our returns policy for further details.

New
Check delivery options