The man returned his gaze to her. “Begging your pardon, my name is
Nordhoff. I am looking for Mr. Mercadier of Daybreak. Do you know him?”
With the mention of his name, Charlotte recognized the man’s accent as vaguely German, and she relaxed a bit, although his question was confusing. “Mercadier?”
“Yes. Emile Mercadier.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out a sheaf of letters. “We have been corresponding for some time.” He held them out. “Perhaps you know me. I am Nordhoff of the Evening Post.”
“What Evening Post?”
“The New York Evening Post, of course, ma’am. You’ve not heard of me?”
“Sorry, no.”
“Ah. My editors take great interest in communities such as yours, and I have pursued that interest at their direction, and of my own great interest as well. Your Mr. Mercadier, he and I have exchanged letters for years now, and he has told me all about Daybreak. I am interested in doing a series of articles about your community.”
“And what has he told you?”
Nordhoff wiped his brow. “That Daybreak is small and struggling in its outward appearance, but well led, and rich in the greatness of the souls who inhabit it.”
Charlotte smiled. “That sounds like Emile, all right. I am sorry to tell you that Mr. Mercadier has died. But he was of considerable age, and his passing was peaceful.” Nordhoff removed his hat.
She reached up to shake his hand. “I am Charlotte Turner. Let’s dry you off and get some feed and rest for your horse.”
She turned and led the way into Daybreak.
~ The End ~
Book Club Questions
1. What makes Marie Mercadier accept Michael Flynn’s proposal?
2. Are there common threads in the ways that the main characters have been changed by the war, or do they change in different ways?
3. When Kathleen Mercadier leaves the community, she tells Marie to keep looking ahead, saying, “Take what life gives you, but do not try to hold on to it.” Do you see merit in her philosophy?
4. Was Turner right in trying to withhold the details about Colonel Carr’s death from Charlotte?
5. As he wrestles with his divided loyalties, Charley Pettibone sometimes wonders if he should have returned to Daybreak after the war. What do you think?
6. Learn about the “Drake Constitution” of Missouri, which was in effect from 1865 until 1875. How do you see that constitution influencing the actions of the characters in the novel?
Acknowledgements
The post-Civil War era in Missouri was a confusing time full of abrupt shifts in popular sentiment and public policy. Victors became outcasts; the defeated found themselves returning to power; and old wounds never healed. Understanding this period of history is a challenge, even for the professional historians.Those who wish to learn more about the actual history of the state during this time (as opposed to the fictional version I offer in this book) would do well to begin with William Parrish's A History of Missouri (Vol. 3), one of the University of Missouri Press' series. That press has also just come out with a collection of essays, The Ozarks in Missouri History, well worth the reading.
Sam Hildebrand, who was one of the few guerrillas who not only survived the war but dictated his memoirs, figures in this novel as well as in Slant of Light, my first volume. I freely confess to taking liberties with Hildebrand's life story in this novel, particularly in the timing of events. Then again, Hildebrand took his own liberties, and I recommend you take a look at the University of Arkansas Press' Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand, magnificently edited by Kirby Ross, if you'd like to sort out the facts of the matter. For those who are looking for something connected to this era that is even grimmer, try Harriet C. Frazier's Lynchings in Missouri, published by McFarland.
Immense gratitude goes to the folks at Blank Slate Press for their care in editing and creativity in design. Publishing is an act of faith, and authors are always fortunate when a publisher expresses faith in them—faith that their work is worthy and that it will find an audience. My partnership with Blank Slate has been rewarding on many levels.
Gratitude as well for those perceptive folks who have read the manuscript versions of this book and offered their comments and suggestions. It's hard to know how well a book is working until you see it through someone else's eyes.
And finally, thanks to all who read Slant of Light and kept peppering me with questions about what was going to happen next! There's no motivation as powerful as the interest of readers. I hope you enjoy This Old World and pepper me with questions about what happens next!
About the Author
Steve Wiegenstein grew up in the eastern Missouri Ozarks and roams its back roads every chance he gets. The Black River and the Annapolis Branch Library were his two main haunts as a kid, and they remain his Mecca and Medina to this day. He is a longtime scholar of the 19th century Icarian movement in America, which provided the inspiration for Slant of Light. He particularly enjoyed weaving the real-life story of Sam Hildebrand—the notorious Confederate bushwhacker who murdered one of Steve’s ancestors—into the novel. Steve and his wife, Sharon Buzzard, both academics, live in Columbia, Missouri. Slant of Light, the first book in his Daybreak series, is his first novel.
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