Book details

  • Genre:fiction
  • Sub-genre:Historical / World War I
  • Language:English
  • Series Title:Southern Warrior Series
  • Series Number:2
  • Pages:260
  • eBook ISBN:9798317801601
  • Paperback ISBN:9798350996098

American Achilles

A Novel of the South and the Great War

By Douglas Shouse

Overview

"American Achilles" continues the story of the Clayton family, a southern family living in North Carolina. Follow their triumphs and trials during the Great War, also known as World War I, both at home and overseas. In 1917, the towns of Winston and Salem officially merged into one, becoming known as Winston-Salem and as the fastest-growing town in the state. Pride about the recent events was rising quickly; however, trouble was on the horizon that distracted from the merging. Europe has been involved in a disastrous three-year-long war, which has created tension in the United States. Like most American families, the Claytons became torn and at odds with the country's inevitable involvement in the war.
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Description

In 1917, the towns of Winston and Salem officially merged into one, becoming known as Winston-Salem and as the fastest-growing town in the state. Pride about the recent events was rising quickly; however, trouble was on the horizon that distracted from the merging. Europe has been involved in a disastrous three-year-long war, which has created tension in the United States. Like most American families, the Claytons became torn and at odds with the country's inevitable involvement in the war. The story follows the lives of four individuals. Noah Clayton, a captain in the U.S. Army who must train the next troops for deployment to Europe; Jefferson Silver, a Black man fleeing north who enlists in the Harlem Hellfighters upon his arrival in New York; Tee Moser, who follows in his father's footsteps and begins selling cigarettes on the black market; and Emma Clayton, a strong advocate for women's suffrage who is chosen as one of the 'Hello Girls' who oversee translating messages between the U.S. and French armies. "American Achilles" is a rich and moving portrayal of a southern family during a momentous time in American history. It brings life to the tragic madness of trench warfare during the First World War.
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About The Author

Douglas Shouse is a passionate historian with a special interest in American military history. He is the author of American Janus, a historical fiction novel of the South and its reckoning with the Civil War and Southern Reconstruction. It's the story of Harper Clayton, a Confederate veteran and his family at the dawn of the 20th century. While looking forward to the promise of a new century, Harper can never truly slip his inescapable past as a soldier in the American Civil War and Freedman's agent during Southern Reconstruction. His new novel is American Achilles which continues the story of the Clayton family during The Great War (WW1). The Clayton family, along with the country, is at odds yet inexorably drawn into the war. Douglas Shouse is also a writer of short stories, most notably The Almond Tree, a story of fantastical love and devotion in the Deep South. He spent a career as a marketing strategist building consumer brands and creatively engaging audiences with innovative ideas and communications. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Masters in Business Administration from The WFU School of Management. He lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with his lovely wife, Ruth and rambunctious golden doodle, Happy.
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