Review of “The Snow Goose and Other Tales” by Ellen Eschell Murphy

Score: 94/100 (9.4 out of 10)

The Snow Goose and Other Tales is a poignant and heartwarming collection of short-stories surrounding the American Civil War Era by Ellen Eschell Murphy! It is a solid collection of historical fiction stories that are sure to pique your interest.

It should be noted that this book primarily focuses on rural civilian life in America during the time period rather than combat or warfare itself. This isn't really a military fiction novel. Therefore, details and descriptions of violence (with the exception of some wounds and blood) is kept to a minimum, making it appropriate for a teen or young-adult audience to read.

It is also heavily focused on the Confederate or Southern side of the conflict as the grand majority of the main characters live in rural Northern Virginia. There's a good reason for this, however. The author later explains that these stories are actually publications of oral tales passed down to her by her grandmother and aunt, who happened to have lived in Virginia. It is also revealed in another book in the series, The Survivors, that the author's great-grandfather was an officer in the Confederate army, presumably the Army of Northern Virginia under the legendary General Robert E. Lee.

There are three main stories or smaller “books” in this book: “The Visitor,” “The Snow Goose,” and “Blossom Time.” Although they differ in substance, they overlap thematically and even tend to blend and blur together at times. Perhaps the prevailing themes of these three stories are compassion and humanity.

In one way or another, each of these three stories explores how—despite conflicts like war—human beings are still human beings. They share certain commonalities. They bleed the same blood. They speak the same languages. They marry. They love. They hate. They feel. They have hopes, dreams, and passions.

This isn't just true about the Northerners (Union) and Southerners (Confederates) throughout the book, it's also true about all of these characters in the 19th century and us (the readers) in the 21st century. It's actually extraordinary to think how familiar these people and even their technologies were during that time. We often forget that the American Civil War didn't take place during ancient, prehistoric, or even colonial times. It happened only about a century and a half ago. So, we were amused to read about technologies like household stoves and ovens, trains, canned goods, and more being used back then. It really makes you think about how far we've come yet how much has remained the same.

The first story, “The Visitor,” really hits on the themes of compassion and humanity. In this story, we're introduced to Kathy Adams, a young woman who manages her household due to several circumstances. Firstly, her father, John, lost one of his legs in a farming accident early in his life, exempting him from military service. However, this doesn't prevent him from being productive, especially on the family farm. Secondly, Kathy's mother died two years before the events of the story. Thirdly, Kathy's sister, Beth, died while giving birth to Baby Carl. So, in effect, Kathy must accept increased responsibility and mature exponentially as she becomes the surrogate caretaker of the house, her father, and Baby Carl.

This actually reminded us a lot of how Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games became the surrogate mom of her family due to circumstances.

Kathy is a strong willed woman who admits that she always says what she thinks.

Anyway, she encounters a heavily wounded, feverish, and famished Confederate soldier, James, just outside the house. Though their initial encounter is a bit frightening and tense, it quickly becomes apparent that James doesn't mean Kathy any harm and just needs food, lodging, and help.

James was left for dead by his regiment after being injured. However, rather than returning to the fighting, he effectively becomes a deserter, making him being there a bit of an ethical dilemma. Could he be dangerous and want more than just help? What if her father finds him or finds out about him? What if the Yankees or Confederates discover him hiding there? Should Kathy harbor him and care for him?

Well, Kathy doesn't have to think long before deciding with her conscience.

It is heartwarming to see humanity and compassion prevail.

Adding a romantic twist, this story becomes a bit of a love-triangle, albeit a lopsided one. It turns out that Kathy has been arranged to marry a despicable man named William who makes disparaging remarks about her and doesn't seem to appreciate or value her at all. He says that he will “take her off the shelf, I guess” like an unwanted item. He also speaks negatively about her beauty, comparing her negatively to other women referred to as “Southern Belles.”

Meanwhile, it seems as though James and Kathy genuinely have chemistry, often making each other smile and laugh. The lingering question throughout the story is: Can Kathy break off the arranged marriage with William and marry James instead?

James & Cathy are nominees for “Best Couple.”

This story also makes it clear that the Northerners, referred to disparagingly as “the Yankees,” are far from the white knight, heroic good guys that they're often portrayed as. Throughout the story, Kathy concerns herself with the atrocities committed by the Yankees and how they could impact her life and the lives of her family and neighbors. For example, the Yankees burn the tobacco fields, causing the price of tobacco to go up. They could also threaten to kill the only virile male pig in the community, which would ruin any hope of sustainable pig farming. It is said in this story that the Yankees steal and take what they want.

It's also said that their prisons are hellholes scarce on food and medical care.

On one hand, this does kinda point out the Confederate/Southern bias of this book and series. On the other hand, it portrays an honest and genuine view of the conflict—one that isn't sugarcoated. The Union Army wasn't really kind to the rebellious South. You could talk about the naval blockade of southern ports (the “Anaconda Plan”) that made it all but impossible for southerners, including civilians uninvolved in the war effort, to get goods necessary for living. There were countless incidents of plundering. This all was exacerbated under General Ulysses S. Grant, under whom General William Sherman executed his infamous 1864 March to the Sea. During the March to the Sea, the Union troops practiced "total war,” targeting not just Confederate military forces but also infrastructure and civilian property. They destroyed railroads, factories, and farms, leaving a path of destruction intended to break the South's will to fight. Sherman's troops seized or destroyed crops, livestock, and homes, displacing civilians and causing widespread hardship. This included the 1864 Burning of Atlanta.

So, the North/Union was far from benevolent. They were involved in many despicable deeds that caused mass suffering. However, like the atomic bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, it could be argued that these terrible deeds may have accelerated the end of the war.

The second story, “The Snow Goose,” brings a special kind of charm. The story follows Nancy Hendricks, who lives on a 200-acre farm in Northern Virginia, a farm which is constantly under threat from predators and is without male help (due to Nancy's husband, Tom, being deployed to war). Nancy dreams of having a good guard dog who can scare off the predators and others who might threaten her property and way of life including potential thieves, squatters, marauders, and soldiers from either army.

Well, God works in mysterious ways (and probably has a sense of humor) as Nancy finds herself adopting a “guard goose” instead.

Nancy discovers a snow goose whose wing appears to have been shot. She helps to nurse him back to health. Throughout the story, Sir Snow Goose (as Nancy calls him) constantly alerts the family to real or perceived danger from Confederate deserters to visitors from the neighborhood. Nancy cutely says that the goose “thinks he's a minuteman.” There is a bit of a hint or soft implication that the goose may be the reincarnation of an actual human person (perhaps a soldier or deceased family member), though it's much more comforting and amusing to think that he's just a goofy animal doing goofy animal things.

This is far and away the cutest, most amusing, and most charming story in the book, if not the whole series.

The third story, “Blossom Time,” follows a widowed woman named Eileen Barb. Due to the death of her husband, James, in the Civil War, she is left alone with her kids (Ryan, Stacey, and Stephanie) on a farm. The farm seems to contain a lot of apple trees that need to be tended to, trimmed, and picked frequently. She is devastated by the loss of her husband and overwhelmed with being left alone with all the kids and so much work.

Although this seems to be the most dismal and depressing of the three stories, it has its bright spots.
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Once again, the themes of compassion and humanity shine through. Robert, a local man (and friend of James) who has harbored feelings for Eileen all their lives, steps in to help fill the hole in her heart. Meg Anderson and Lillian, two members of the community, also step in to help Eileen with her household/farm work and childcare. While this story isn't a knockout on a surface level, when you really step back and think about it, it's actually quite beautiful. It's about rising from the ashes just like America after the Civil War.

Check it out on Amazon!