A Walk Through Fire

by William Cobb

Amidst disorder and angst, these characters face an unthinkable struggle to find order and commonality among people they’ve known all their lives.

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

William Cobb is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels, Coming of Age at the Y, The Hermit King, A Walk Through Fire, Harry Reunited, A Spring of Souls, Wings of Morning, and The Last Queen of the Gypsies. His collection of short fiction is Somewhere in All This Green. He is currently working on a novel about the Creek Indian War in Alabama in 1813-1814. He is married to the short story writer Loretta Cobb and lives in Montevallo, Alabama.

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book written by Kate’s uncle. The various perspectives of characters in this book are especially interesting with the insider knowledge that Bill was involved in the Civil Rights movement in the 60s. I loved this book and I would recommend it to everyone!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Cobb’s novel, A Walk Through Fire , is set in Hammond, Alabama during times of racial injustice. Initially I didn’t think I would finish this book. It was a struggle for some reason to get through the first few pages – it just wasn’t pulling me in. But once I made past the first chapter I couldn’t put the book down. The interweaving of the characters’ lives - their past, their present, and what would become of their future - became very compelling. Central to the story is Eldon, who is black, and O.B., who is white. Both grew up and played together as boys. In between them was Cora, who was black. She had an intimated relationship with both – starting first with O.B. when they were children. Later, she married Eldon, but during their more than 20-year marriage she had succumb to her desires with O.B twice. And both times Eldon forgave her and O.B.

Cobb has done a beautiful job of weaving these fictional characters amongst the real-life happenings of that period in our American history. A time when whites and blacks were not treated equal. When blacks were denied the opportunity to register to vote and had to sit in “blacks only” areas of diners and movie theaters. And lived in constant threat of being lynched or having their homes, businesses, and churches burned down.

Although I had not been born yet when these events happened in our history, I’ve read about them, and heard about them from people who lived it. Cobbs’ use of language, imagery, vocabulary, and the vivid descriptions he paints of the people and the town will pull you in and transport you to that place and time. It allows you to feel the characters’ emotions and experience their pain.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in '97 and I recall how much I enjoyed the book. My excel notes state: 1960s South during the civil rights movement.

[OliReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was well written but the ending was kind of a let down. It almost felt like the writer was tired of writing so he just strung words together and hoped that was good enough. It wasn't.