Wall of Fire

The Appomattox Saga #7

by Gilbert Morris

As Mark Rocklin lies dying, his one hope is to be reunited with his estranged daughter, Allyn.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Civil War, Historical, Christian, War

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 1995

About the author

also published under the name Gilbert L. Morris

Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris

Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*

Reviews

[Summer Reading]

4.5

This book rehashed an old plot element used in previous books: a break from a Confederate prison. It's instigated by the same people as last time, though the plan is different and the person rescued is different. The final outcome is implied rather than realized.

The story of Allyn and Jason was one of my favorites the first time I read the series ages ago, and I enjoyed it this time around, too, though I noticed that some of their character traits were told more than shown.

I also noticed that Allyn deals blackjack in a bar, but Morris is very clear that she *just* deals cards. She's not a "fallen woman," and I wonder if this is to reflect the values of the historical time period or if Morris himself doesn't believe a "fallen" woman has the same value as an un- fallen one.

In this book, as well as the previous books in the series, the slaves that serve the Rocklin families are shown as happy and loyal, caring for the white people who own them and upset by the Yankees attacking the South. They are good, kind, loving people, but I don't think many of today's readers would be happy with this portrayal as it implies that they were content and even happy with their enslavement. The portrayal does line up, a fat a my understanding goes, with what the South wanted the North to believe about their slaves.

So, was Morris trying to show what might be true to the era in which his story takes place? Was he trying to show what the South wanted to believe? Or was he trying to show that the Rocklins are good people, despite being slaveholders? Or did he himself believe that slaves were happy if they had kind masters? I'm not sure. It's not a central part of the story.

The story itself is well-written and enjoyable if you can keep in mind that this is 1863, not 2025. Along with happy slaves, at least one character, a man, expresses the idea that marriage is essential to a woman's happiness and care, another sentiment that was probably true to the historical setting but wouldn't be admired by everyone today.

[Lorraine Shaw]

Another great book.

[Emily Gayle]

This was an okay book, not my favorite but had some decent parts in it.

[Lucy]

Awesome historical fiction, with well developed character and plots.

[Solana Peterson]

Love the plot! Shows that love is not easy!

[Darlene Wilson]

As Mark Rocklin lies dying, his one hope is to be reunited with his estranged daughter, Allyn. (Ay-leen)