The Decision

"George McGuire's The Decision ushers readers into the fragmented world of the American Civil War, a world in which chatacters struggle to make sense of divided loyalties and divided relationships. The heroes are complex and convincing, especially the first person narrator, Alexander Fairfield. This shrewd, professional gambler finds himself caught up in warring factions of class and creed, culture and customs, while he pursues a perilous romance with an equally complex woman. The gambling motif effectively embodies his central dilemma as a loyal Southerner who rejects slavery and must decide between genuine friendships and the espionage that will allow him to carry out his quest for love. Tracing Fairfield's decisions, the plot maintains a delicate suspense from start to finish. Like its principal characters, the novel itself is a fascinating hybrid: it read like a Western, a courtroom drama, a Regency romance, and a spy thriller, all cleverly woven into one by a masterful storyteller." Dr. Tyler Fisher Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages University of Oxford Oxford, England PLOT SYNOPSIS: The Civil War is imminent in the United States as thirty one year old Alexander Fairfield meets Sarah Sullivan, a beautiful and wealthy young widow. They are attracted at once, and although their cultural backgrounds are vastly different, they are drawn to each other immediately. Sarah is accustomed to mixing with the most influential members of Washington's society, the city where both are living. Even so, she is very responsive to becoming involved in a relationship with Alexander who is well known for having lived an adventurous lifestyle in the past. In the background of the romance, a rare event occurs when Malcolm, an escaped slave, appears and is given shelter by Alexander. Also, a troubling matter for Alexander takes place when he is approached by both the North and the South asking for his services as a spy. He has friends on both sides and though he opposes slavery he cannot readily support the North because he was born in the South. The result leaves him with a monumental decision to make.