Michaela Gilchrist The Fiercer Heart

The Fiercer Heart

Michaela Gilchrist

Simon & Schuster, Oct 2005, $25.00

ISBN: 0743222822

In 1838 New York aristocrat Lieutenant Philip Kearny reports to duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri where he meets the sister-in-law of the commanding officer, Kentuckian Diana Bullitt. A few years later, he learns that several men are courting her in Louisville so he races there to suddenly propose. She accepts understanding that her mother will sell her into marriage anyway.

As he goes off to war seemingly around the world, she mourns the loss of their infant daughter while ignoring his philandering. However, when he loses his arm during the Mexican War, she tries to be by his side, but he lost more than just a limb as the courageous Phillip suffers badly from combat fatigue. Unable to cope with his wild emotions and his women, Diana does the unthinkable for a 1850s southern belle; she divorces Phillip for she chooses freedom to start over in spite of the scorn and danger. Soon the Civil war will further divide loyalties.

This is a terrific insightful historical fiction that concentrates on the relationship between Diana and Phillip. The tale goes quite deep into providing a vivid panorama of America in the two decades prior to the Civil War. Through the eyes of the lead duet, and the strong support cast too, fans will taste how ideologically divided the nation was leading up to the war (sounds somewhat familiar today). Fans of powerfully descriptive historical dramas based on true events and people, and genuine nineteenth century documents will want to read this astute look at Antebellum America through the real lives of a famous married couple.

Harriet Klausner