Jane Langton. 2003. The Deserter: Murder at Gettysburg, a Homer Kelly Mystery. Thomas Dunne Books, New York.
ArchaeoFiction from a Classic Writer
Thoreau scholar Jane Langton has spent some forty years or so writing witty, literate murder mysteries solved by the fictional Homer Kelly and his wife Mary Morgan Kelly. The Kellys seem to find mysteries, if not murders, everywhere, while traipsing around the world studying the works of literary figures such Charles Darwin, Lewis Carroll, and Thomas Jefferson, not to mention that Transcendental crowd of Emerson, Thoreau, and Dickinson. The books are funny and fresh and right on the mark when it comes to human characters; and as long as I've known about them, I've loved them, looked forward to every one and gladly pressed them onto the bookshelves of everyone I know. Now, with her latest book, Langton sneaks into our bailiwick of history and archaeology, and I have an excuse to press it into yours.
A Case of Identity Theft
The Deserter of the title is, according to family history, Mary Morgan Kelly's great-great-grandfather Seth Morgan, who was at Gettysburg, the decisive battle of the American Civil War. In early July of 1863, a group of young men who had been jolly fellows of the Hasty Pudding Club at Harvard a few years before found themselves in a completely different kind of team effort--the battle of Gettysburg. Some were to die, some were to be forever changed, and one in particular--the class clown--was to skedaddle as far away from the fighting as possible, stealing the identity of a classmate in the process.
The Methods of Historical Research
Homer and Mary chase down the family skeletons by using good historical research methods, delving into family papers, hanging around in obscure libraries and junk shops, and interviewing curmudgeonly relatives. There's even a relative passing himself off as an architectural historian; but it's Mary and Homer who do the real research.
Much of the action takes place in 1863, at Gettysburg, and in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC where Seth Morgan's pregnant widow goes in search of her husband, unaware of his murderous impersonator. Illustrated with photographs from the period and a handful of the line drawings used by Langton in most of her novels and children's stories, the Deserter is an entrancing entertainment.
Much of the action takes place in 1863, at Gettysburg, and in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC where Seth Morgan's pregnant widow goes in search of her husband, unaware of his murderous impersonator. Illustrated with photographs from the period and a handful of the line drawings used by Langton in most of her novels and children's stories, the Deserter is an entrancing entertainment.
There are lots of ways to learn how historical research works; but I can think of no more enjoyable way than cracking open this wonderful book. A sequel is in the works to be called Steeple Chase; lucky us! I can hardly wait.
