Henry's Pride

by Greg Seeley

Inspired by the handwritten journals and letters of the author’s great grandfather, Henry’s Pride is the story of men and women on both sides of the Civil War. Writing nearly in real time 150 years after the events, from 2012 to 2015, Greg Seeley takes us on a journey behind enemy lines, onto the battlefield, to the neglected farms back home, and inside the prison camps during this divisive period in American history. Meet Henry Hancock, a prideful Union sergeant and later captain, who faithfully performs his duty while trying to make sense of what he calls “the nation’s nasty business.” Meet his brother Jonas, injured, mustered out of the army, yet still traumatized by his experiences in an artillery battery. Meet Theodore, a runaway slave too young to join the Union Army, who becomes a hired worker at their Minnesota farm. You’ll also meet Darius, the young heir to a Georgia plantation, fighting for the Confederacy to protect his inheritance while Hamilton Stark, his overseer back home, goes to extreme lengths to prevent runaways and head off a slave insurrection. Mr. Seeley, a loyal student of history, interweaves these very compelling and realistic stories with letters to and from home, describing a world so vivid and human you will be instantly transported.

440 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2016

About the author

Greg grew up on the family farm north of Afton,Iowa and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a major in History and a Minor in English. He holds a Masters degree in Social Science Education from the University of Iowa.

Greg is a retired Certified Public Accountant. He currently lives in Overland Park, Kansas with his wife, Carolyn, who is a retired high school math teacher, their dog, and two cats.

In September of 2014 Greg released his first book, a collection entitled "The Horse Lawyer and Other Poems". In October, 2016, he released his debut novel, a Civil War period piece called "Henry's Pride". A second novel, "In Henry's Land: A Broken Peace", is currently in process along with a new collection of poems and lyrical essays entitled "Tractor Bones and Rusted Trucks: Tales and Recollections of a Heartland Baby Boomer"

At the University of Northern Iowa ,Greg studied under Robert James Waller who later wrote "The Bridges of Madison County" and many other works. Waller,at the time, was teaching economics - not literature or creative writing.

Reviews

[Pamela Allegretto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg Seeley has penned a well-written, well-researched Civil War drama. The interesting and complex characters range from lovable to likeable to detestable; none are boring. Henry’s Pride places in you the moment. The book alternates among multiple points of view, following the chronology of the war and surprising the reader at every turn. Short, quick scenes, interspersed with letters, do a good job of centering the story on a specific cast of interconnected characters.

[Victor Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of Civil War books lately, mostly non-fiction. I had the good fortune of reading this debut historical fiction which does everything its genre is supposed to do. It places you in the moment, in the time, caught behind enemy lines to ponder what life must have been like to various people: a disabled veteran, an alcoholic commander, a deserter, a prisoner of war, a wife left to tend the homestead, exchanging letters with her soldier husband. The book alternates among all of these points of view, following the chronology of the war and surprising the reader at every turn. It flows just like a television miniseries, with short, quick scenes, interspersed with letters, doing a good job of centering the story on a specific cast of (sometimes loosely) interconnected characters.

Knowing the author was inspired by his great grandfather's handwritten war letters and records brings an enhanced sense of realism to the project.

[Steven Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, homespun historical fiction with a sense of heartfelt humanity. Vivid prose, fascinating characters, convincing historical settings.

[J.D.R. Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing sums up the tragedy our country endured during the Civil War better than the words of author Greg Seeley:

"The whole war was a colossal exercise in madness that never should have happened.
But happened it had. Now thousands upon thousands were either dead or maimed for life – and for what?"

After more than 150 years, many aspects of this question remain unanswered. The war left scars that can still be seen to this day, especially in the South.

Mr. Seeley’s story is gripping, and demonstrates the tragedy of the American Civil War. I especially liked the letters the characters wrote, which gave insight into how they were feeling. Although the plot line switched back and forth among the characters continually, once I learned who the characters were and what their situations were, changes in POV were less confusing. The story was interesting, and the dialogue used between the characters was captivating. The plot went along with the timeline of the war. Henry’s Pride gives an honest examination of what life was like on both sides of the Mason Dixon Line during the war. The characters’ experiences were realistic and poignant, and their situations were compelling. I highly recommend this book to every Civil War enthusiast.

J.D.R. Hawkins
Author of A Beautiful Glittering Lie, A Beckoning Hellfire and A Rebel Among Us, the first three novels in the Renegade Series.

[Marietta Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I love reading about the Civil War era, I was so happy to read this book. It does not disappoint. Mr. Seeley does an excellent job conveying the emotions from both sides. I have read many books concerning Sherman's March to the Sea and just the devastation that both armies did to the other; however, Henry's Pride made me really feel the pain and the destruction. I could almost smell the smoke. I look forward reading more from this author.

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry's Pride captures historical events during the Civil War, from both sides, through the stories compelling characters. Inspired by the journals and letters of an ancestor, the author has written a masterful book that Civil War buffs will especially appreciate.