Russell Dole has written a very interesting novel titled In Search Of Honor Book II: Bowdoin, published by North Country Press. I was very impressed with the details of life that Russell included in this story, from what folks had for dinner to the difficulties of traveling in Maine. Many people lived in poverty.
As the Civil War approaches, 18-year-old Benjamin Dean, the narrator of this story, works his way through Bowdoin College where Joshua Chamberlain was his professor. Benjamin worries about the national divide over slavery and talks about it often with professor Chamberlain.
The story includes plenty of tragedy along with times of joy. There is lots of romance in the story too. And it actually takes Benjamin an entire day to travel from Brunswick to his hometown of Rockland.
I had trouble initially believing this was not written by Benjamin because the details are so specific. Russell must have done a lot of research about what life was like back in those days.
You’ll get caught up in the story soon after beginning to read the book. I was really fascinated by the experiences of life lived by Benjamin, members of his family, and his girlfriend. And I think you will too.