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Griswoldville
Madison Co., Georgia, 1864—14-year old Georgie Wax has spent the three years since his father left for the war looking after the family farm. With his mother and young brothers, Georgie and his grandfather Lafayette “Fate” Eschenbach have brought in the crops every fall, slaughtered the hogs every winter, and kept the farm running as the faraway war stretches on longer and longer and his father seems ever farther and farther away.
But when the enemy reaches their own state, Georgie and his grandfather are called up to the militia to protect Georgia against the invaders. Drilled mercilessly, mocked for lack of experience, and put to work at manual labor, Georgie finds war isn’t the adventure he imagined it to be. Only with Atlanta fallen and the enemy on the move will Georgie, Fate, and their fellow Georgia militiamen find a chance to prove themselves and save their homes from destruction—at a railside factory town called Griswoldville.
But when the enemy reaches their own state, Georgie and his grandfather are called up to the militia to protect Georgia against the invaders. Drilled mercilessly, mocked for lack of experience, and put to work at manual labor, Georgie finds war isn’t the adventure he imagined it to be. Only with Atlanta fallen and the enemy on the move will Georgie, Fate, and their fellow Georgia militiamen find a chance to prove themselves and save their homes from destruction—at a railside factory town called Griswoldville.
374 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2018
11 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Jordan M. Poss
5 books114 followersJordan M. Poss is a native of Rabun County, in the beautiful north Georgia mountains. In 2010 he graduated from Clemson University, where he studied Anglo-Saxon England and military history, with an MA in European History. He currently teaches Western and US history at a small technical college in upstate South Carolina, where he lives with his wife—a Texas native—and five children.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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March 13, 2019I dedicated the book to my grandfathers, two Georgia natives who provided models of manliness, faith, hard work, and love. For the anniversary of my maternal grandfather's death, I posted an excerpt of Griswoldville directly inspired by something he once taught me how to do.
Excerpt from Part III: Miles Gloriosus available here.
See what Griswoldville's first readers have been saying here.
Written November 1-mid-December 2016 and early June-July 3, 2017. Early revisions summer 2017. Major revisions spring and summer 2018.
Excerpt from Part III: Miles Gloriosus available here.
See what Griswoldville's first readers have been saying here.
Written November 1-mid-December 2016 and early June-July 3, 2017. Early revisions summer 2017. Major revisions spring and summer 2018.
March 26, 2020
Historical fiction is a glutted and often abused genre, too often subjected to fantasy role-playing or nostalgic pap. While historical fiction is intended to reveal something meaningful about both the past and the present, too often, the past is either molded to appeal to the present or else it is cartoonishly condemned. Such a lazy treatment is entirely absent from Griswoldville, which is a work of historical enlightenment, deep characterization, and beautiful prose.
Jordan Poss has expertly built a world in which the past which is both relevant enough for the modern reader to find meaning but also alien enough to be genuine. The characters reveal what is valuable and significant, and the reader is left to glean from this what he can without judgement or guidance. History is laid bare as a reality, brought to life with vibrant characters and evocative verbiage.
I highly recommend Griswoldville to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially historical fiction related to the War Between the States.
Jordan Poss has expertly built a world in which the past which is both relevant enough for the modern reader to find meaning but also alien enough to be genuine. The characters reveal what is valuable and significant, and the reader is left to glean from this what he can without judgement or guidance. History is laid bare as a reality, brought to life with vibrant characters and evocative verbiage.
I highly recommend Griswoldville to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially historical fiction related to the War Between the States.
January 26, 2019
As a youngster I was taught not to judge a book by its cover but in the case of “Griswoldville” I will make an exception. I am a visual person and the picture of Georgie, that looks like it could be a reproduction of a real civil war militiaman, gave me a face to put to the name and to make me realize just how young some of these soldiers were. It is a great cover and made me want to pick it up and delve inside.
On to the inside. Poss takes just the right amount of time developing the characters so I could relate to them. This was nicely done with the time spent at home on the farm before he and his grandfather are called up to the militia to defend their state. The narrative moved along smoothly and kept me drawn to the story as it unfolded. The author does a good job of making the everyday tasks of the war seem a drudgery. And when it does come time to fight: realistic and frightening.
And finally for me the best compliment I can give to a book is to say it would make a great movie. 👍🏻👍🏻
On to the inside. Poss takes just the right amount of time developing the characters so I could relate to them. This was nicely done with the time spent at home on the farm before he and his grandfather are called up to the militia to defend their state. The narrative moved along smoothly and kept me drawn to the story as it unfolded. The author does a good job of making the everyday tasks of the war seem a drudgery. And when it does come time to fight: realistic and frightening.
And finally for me the best compliment I can give to a book is to say it would make a great movie. 👍🏻👍🏻
December 11, 2018
I love the Civil War era. As a native South Carolinian, I understand the southern perspective of life that is so often misconstrued in modern literature. This novel, however, captured so well the rural south that I grew up knowing, with all its joys and all its faults. I found this to be an extremely readable novel while also staying true to the time period with dialogue and vocabulary. It read like a memoir of someone who lived during the late 1800s.
Growing up as a young southern boy I often fascinated over what I would have done had I lived during the Civil War, and I was drawn to the gallantry and the heroism of soldiering, of war, and of battle. Poss does a great job of recognizing that thinking within all boys as he creates the character of Georgie Wax. It was easy for me to put myself in the shoes of Georgie with all of his thoughts and uncertainties. I love how Poss develops this character throughout the novel. I found myself revisiting my "growing up years" as I wrestled with life alongside Georgie Wax. This was a novel that resonates with the experience of every boy, no matter when you grew up.
I was also drawn in by the relationship shared between Georgie and his grandfather. This relationship is important to me because it was my relationship with my own grandfather that was the most significant of my young life. The beauty of this relationship brought tears to my eyes!
I also enjoyed the biblical theme of redemption, whether intentional or not. This is a theme that flows through every well-written story because it is the theme of Truth. This theme was woven beautifully into the narrative, and it was wonderful to watch it unfold.
I enjoyed learning something new through this story about Civil War history - a story that has been little told through the years. I love how the author took a footnote from history and turned what has been deemed an insignificant "battle" into the most significant point of one man's story.
I highly recommend this novel, and I look forward to reading more by Jordan Poss!
Growing up as a young southern boy I often fascinated over what I would have done had I lived during the Civil War, and I was drawn to the gallantry and the heroism of soldiering, of war, and of battle. Poss does a great job of recognizing that thinking within all boys as he creates the character of Georgie Wax. It was easy for me to put myself in the shoes of Georgie with all of his thoughts and uncertainties. I love how Poss develops this character throughout the novel. I found myself revisiting my "growing up years" as I wrestled with life alongside Georgie Wax. This was a novel that resonates with the experience of every boy, no matter when you grew up.
I was also drawn in by the relationship shared between Georgie and his grandfather. This relationship is important to me because it was my relationship with my own grandfather that was the most significant of my young life. The beauty of this relationship brought tears to my eyes!
I also enjoyed the biblical theme of redemption, whether intentional or not. This is a theme that flows through every well-written story because it is the theme of Truth. This theme was woven beautifully into the narrative, and it was wonderful to watch it unfold.
I enjoyed learning something new through this story about Civil War history - a story that has been little told through the years. I love how the author took a footnote from history and turned what has been deemed an insignificant "battle" into the most significant point of one man's story.
I highly recommend this novel, and I look forward to reading more by Jordan Poss!
April 24, 2023
I'll be thinking about this one for a long while. Highly recommend.
July 2, 2021
Great read. This book has rekindled my love for all things Civil War.
November 10, 2024
[This review is adapted from a complimentary email I wrote to the author.]
This book is phenomenal and deserves to be more widely known! I am amazed that more people have not read this book (at least, according to Goodreads). I feel I have "discovered" a real treasure.
The relationship between Georgie and Fate is heartwarming and realistic. The book's of depiction of faith struck me as spot-on, as religiosity was much higher then than now. There is a vivid depiction of Georgie and Fate's experience attending Mass, and Poss' realistically portrays the anti-Catholic sentiment common at the time.
Author Jordan Poss paints a vivid image of the time and place and how a pre-teen would have been impacted growing up in the South during the war. His descriptions of the battle -- the confusion, fog of war, sounds, sights and smells -- seem to be highly realistic based on other historic accounts I've read. Thankfully, there is no dramatic (and unrealistic) bayonet charge; those were actually quite rare.
The pacing of the book was perfect and the writing complex (in a good way), highly evocative and beautiful. I found myself re-reading sentences two and three times to fully absorb and appreciate them.
I truly believe this books deserves a wide audience and have been recommending it everywhere I go. I also have requested that my local library purchase a copy in the hopes that more people will discover this excellent book.
This book is phenomenal and deserves to be more widely known! I am amazed that more people have not read this book (at least, according to Goodreads). I feel I have "discovered" a real treasure.
The relationship between Georgie and Fate is heartwarming and realistic. The book's of depiction of faith struck me as spot-on, as religiosity was much higher then than now. There is a vivid depiction of Georgie and Fate's experience attending Mass, and Poss' realistically portrays the anti-Catholic sentiment common at the time.
Author Jordan Poss paints a vivid image of the time and place and how a pre-teen would have been impacted growing up in the South during the war. His descriptions of the battle -- the confusion, fog of war, sounds, sights and smells -- seem to be highly realistic based on other historic accounts I've read. Thankfully, there is no dramatic (and unrealistic) bayonet charge; those were actually quite rare.
The pacing of the book was perfect and the writing complex (in a good way), highly evocative and beautiful. I found myself re-reading sentences two and three times to fully absorb and appreciate them.
I truly believe this books deserves a wide audience and have been recommending it everywhere I go. I also have requested that my local library purchase a copy in the hopes that more people will discover this excellent book.
May 29, 2019
Phenomenal read! Read cover to cover in 4 days! Well written and researched for a novel, and places the reader in a position not often covered in popular books referencing the War of Northern Aggression: the home front of rural Georgia. The author paints a graphic picture of the life and mindset of a moderate, non-slave owning, Georgia family, and breaks the common narrative so portrayed when media outlets cover this time frame. Humanizes the Southern citizenry and highlights the struggles of home life while most of the Southern men were away defending their loved ones. Reveals motives for the Southern Cause of freedom outside that of slavery, and brings to life the characters in not only a way that any Georgian can relate, but those from outside the borders of the Peach State as well! Artfully describes the combat of the era, but from a human perspective rather than a historian or tacticians view. As a native of Macon, Georgia, just South West of Griswoldville, I was pleased to see the references of Macon as well as the local landmarks. It was obvious the author took the time to properly research the area and history, and it makes a Maconite proud. I have and will continue to recommend this book to ANYONE with a passion for this time period, and especially the local and State history of Georgia. THANK YOU to Mr. Poss for your hard work, dedication and generosity in allowing me to read your hand-signed copy of this book! It was EXCELLENT.
September 19, 2018
Disclaimer: I know the author and received a copy personally from him.
I’m usually not one for Civil War history, fictional or otherwise. It seems like every young American boy interested in history is gifted with a glut of McPherson, Shaara, and Künstler. I was burned out on Civil War history some time ago.
However, I found this novel particularly readable. The best history is local history, and Poss brings his knowledge of rural Georgia and southern family dynamics to bear on this “discovered memoir”.
The language resembles many turn-of-the-last-century novels and, at times, may seem stuffy or antiquated. Poss helpfully includes a glossary for those unfamiliar with Civil War-era military jargon.
The story itself is a distinctly Southern tale: it takes its time getting started and you’ll miss the important bits of you aren’t paying attention. I found the story believable but for one event at the junction of the climax and denouement, but literary license must be granted. This is, after all, a work of fiction.
Poss’ afterward and appendices placed the work in a larger context; some might argue the “found letters” would be better placed at the beginning or scattered strategically throughout the text.
Ultimately, Griswoldville is a solid novel that should provide several hours’ pleasure to academic and amateur history buff alike.
I’m usually not one for Civil War history, fictional or otherwise. It seems like every young American boy interested in history is gifted with a glut of McPherson, Shaara, and Künstler. I was burned out on Civil War history some time ago.
However, I found this novel particularly readable. The best history is local history, and Poss brings his knowledge of rural Georgia and southern family dynamics to bear on this “discovered memoir”.
The language resembles many turn-of-the-last-century novels and, at times, may seem stuffy or antiquated. Poss helpfully includes a glossary for those unfamiliar with Civil War-era military jargon.
The story itself is a distinctly Southern tale: it takes its time getting started and you’ll miss the important bits of you aren’t paying attention. I found the story believable but for one event at the junction of the climax and denouement, but literary license must be granted. This is, after all, a work of fiction.
Poss’ afterward and appendices placed the work in a larger context; some might argue the “found letters” would be better placed at the beginning or scattered strategically throughout the text.
Ultimately, Griswoldville is a solid novel that should provide several hours’ pleasure to academic and amateur history buff alike.
July 16, 2019
Griswoldville is no typical Civil War story. The novel avoids the standard demonization of Southerners and reveals how even the often forgotten episodes of the War (like the battle of Griswoldville) forever changed the lives of soldiers like Georgie.
December 31, 2024
Definitely the best book of the year for me, well researched, and beautifully written. A meditation on what it means to be a family and a provider.
December 4, 2020
This is an absolutely fantastic novel about a young 14 year-old boy who gets recruited into a militia to help protect Georgia towards the end of the Civil War. The reader experiences the full gambit of the boy’s emotions as his youthful exuberance and sense of adventure are dashed by the reality of soldiering and war. The true achievement here is the way in which the author conveys the reasons common folk supported and enthusiastically took up arms for the Confederacy. They had their own reasons for doing so, which greatly differed from the wealthy and from the government (which for both of them, yes, it was about slavery). I truly empathized with these characters and I understand a bit more of why the war is so heavily romanticized in the south.
I fear this novel won’t get the attention it deserves, thanks partially to the fact many people are referring to it as historical fiction (a genre which often includes some shaky plots and lackluster writing). This is honestly my favorite novel based on the Civil War that I’ve read to this point. History and Civil War buffs should read this! I think I may pick up a few copies to share with some folks who I think will appreciate it!
I fear this novel won’t get the attention it deserves, thanks partially to the fact many people are referring to it as historical fiction (a genre which often includes some shaky plots and lackluster writing). This is honestly my favorite novel based on the Civil War that I’ve read to this point. History and Civil War buffs should read this! I think I may pick up a few copies to share with some folks who I think will appreciate it!
October 4, 2018
I’ve read several of Jordan’s novels, but this, perhaps because it is a coming-of-age novel, is my favorite.
This novel works on several levels. First, as a coming-of-age novel, Griswoldville captures the passage from boy to man. The backdrop of the war and then Reconstruction works splendidly for Georgie’s transformation. Second, the tole of a war on the people involved seemed heartbreaking. Not having been in a war myself, I can only imagine the pain and sorrow that must follow those who take up arms. The novel helped me imagine that burden. Finally, the beautiful family ties that Georgie describes make me want to love on my own family. In some ways, this novel is a tribute to every strong mother, father, or, in the case of Georgie, grandfather. Fate, Georgie’s grandfather, is an unforgettable character. My wish is that everyone could have a grandfather who passed on such a legacy of faith, gentleness, and wisdom.
This novel works on several levels. First, as a coming-of-age novel, Griswoldville captures the passage from boy to man. The backdrop of the war and then Reconstruction works splendidly for Georgie’s transformation. Second, the tole of a war on the people involved seemed heartbreaking. Not having been in a war myself, I can only imagine the pain and sorrow that must follow those who take up arms. The novel helped me imagine that burden. Finally, the beautiful family ties that Georgie describes make me want to love on my own family. In some ways, this novel is a tribute to every strong mother, father, or, in the case of Georgie, grandfather. Fate, Georgie’s grandfather, is an unforgettable character. My wish is that everyone could have a grandfather who passed on such a legacy of faith, gentleness, and wisdom.
May 12, 2023
So well written
Such an interesting novel about the effects of the Civil War upon families in the south. As historically accurate as fiction can be, more than anything it’s a reminder of the legacy that is created through close generational bonds. This one will stay with me for a while.
Such an interesting novel about the effects of the Civil War upon families in the south. As historically accurate as fiction can be, more than anything it’s a reminder of the legacy that is created through close generational bonds. This one will stay with me for a while.
October 17, 2025
Griswoldville is a deeply moving and beautifully written story. Jordan M. Poss captures the heart of the Civil War through young Georgie’s eyes with stunning realism and emotion. Every page pulled me deeper into his world the innocence, the loss, the courage. It’s heartfelt, haunting, and unforgettable. A must-read for anyone who loves powerful historical fiction.
October 1, 2025
Excellent historical novel/ story about a little known Civil War battle in middle Georgia.
The author gives us a view of war thru the eyes of a 14 year old.
Very moving.
Highly recommend.
The author gives us a view of war thru the eyes of a 14 year old.
Very moving.
Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews