A Nation Divided, Vol. 1: Storms Gather

by Robert Marcum

Randolf and Elizabeth Hudson were barely into their teens when they left the persecuted city of Nauvoo with their mother, Mary, and relocated to booming St. Louis. Mary had lost faith in the restored gospel after the deaths of her dear husband and the Prophet Joseph Smith. For the rest of her life, bitterness prevented Mary from ever again speaking of the Church. But now, thirteen years later, civil war looms on the horizon. And as Rand stands by his mother’s freshly dug grave, he ponders what the faith he knew as a child might mean for himself and his sister in an increasingly troubled world.

Both independent thinkers, their opposition to slavery places them at odds with friends and family alike, and mounting political tension threatens to tear apart their most cherished relationships. As Rand fights to keep the family’s steamship business from a hypocritical uncle who has sold out to treacherous slaveholders and secessionists, Elizabeth struggles to end an ill-suited entanglement that could cripple her freedom. Now both must stand with courage as bonds are tested and old wounds re-opened in the midst one of the darkest periods in history, a time when a great nation divides against itself.

Genres: Historical Fiction

528 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story but it was a little slow paced for me.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some fabulous main characters, characters I can feel for. Rand and LIzzy abolitionalist siblings living in Missouri just prior to the Civil War are joined by others in their fight to keep Missouri in the Union as a border state. Some believable antagonists that are easy to dislike, but well written.

You don't hear much about the struggle in the border states to remain with the Union and I loved that part of the story.

An LDS historical fiction novel. Well written.

[Lindsay Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction and this one was very informational. It took me a while to really get into the story because there are a lot of characters, but the further I got, the more it started to flow together. By the second half of the book I almost couldn’t stop reading, I had to know what was going to happen to these characters!

[Terrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and especially the Civil War period. It was fun to look at the War from the perspective of St. Louis and see how divided the people in Missouri were with regards to slavery. I really liked the characters--Lizzy showed amazing strength and courage in helping slaves escape. And, of course, I liked the religion mixed into the story.

[Lindsey Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing did a little too much telling. It felt as if the author was afraid we wouldn’t be able to pick up on the characters’ attitudes and emotions, so it was often spelled out for the reader instead of being shown through actions or words.

Still, I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I look forward to reading about their journeys in the next volume.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved his writing style. I love the way he has woven a great plot with great characters with the history of the Civil War.

[Joanne Sentman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great road trip audio. Several story lines. Covered over 2 trips.

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a hard time putting it down to do my daily tasks.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Van Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the category of LDS fiction, I consider Robert Marcum one of the best. I have read many of his previous books and found them to be engaging and enjoyable. This first book in a new series of historical fiction set in the lead up to the U.S. civil war does not disappoint. I am not an authority on the civil war, but the situations presented ring true. If you enjoy historical fiction with an LDS viewpoint, I highly recommend this book. You will smile, you will cry, and you will cheer as you read this book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good historical novel! This is set at the beginning of the civil war and shows families that are friends and relatives who must decide where their allegiances are. Also throw in that some of them are members of the LDS church who chose not to go West when most saints migrated to Utah. Great book by an author I haven't read from yet. Will be looking into his other books.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a LDS historical fiction novel about the days leading up to the Civil War. It is the first of two volumes, and I look forward to the the next one.

[Karen Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Vol. 1 of a series. This is just fun reading, good story line and intense plot at times. I also read Vol. 2 called "For Love of Country".