Will

by Paul Steinmann

Will and his friend are risking their lives and have escaped the plantation. They are on the run; but before Will took off, the old conjure woman warned him, "Evil spirits creeps 'round at night, and tricky spirits kin hex people—even da smart ones likes you." Evil spirits are not the only problem; slave hunters, patrollers, and a mercenary detective are all after Will and Tom, and his childhood companion, Teeny. Luckily, the three friends encounter a group of abolitionists—a lawyer, a riverboat captain, a businessman, and a wealthy heiress—who want nothing more than to help them escape to freedom. But slaves are valuable property, and owners will go to any lengths to get them back. What transpires for these three slaves borders on the implausible, but is rooted in historical fact. They all flee in different directions and make their way north by steamboat on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. This harrowing journey involves wearing disguises, finding new love, and risking a fortune in a poker game. But the real gamble is a slave betting he can escape and be free...he pays the ultimate price if he loses.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2018

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Steinmann’s Will is a well written Historical Fiction that takes place during the American slave era. It was my introduction to Historical Fiction and did not disappoint. In fact, it made me a fan of the genre. The story begins in Mississippi, set on the Mary Dale plantation. The titular character Will, a literate slave, discovers his new master, a man called James Pritchard, acquired the plantation through illegal means. Fearing his cruel master’s wrath, Will escapes alongside his best friend Tom. The two head for St. Louis by boat, carrying the evidence that would reveal Pritchard’s fraud. After learning of their escape, Pritchard sends his lackey on their trail. Will and Tom eventually meet a sympathetic attorney that wishes to present their findings and help the other slaves procure freedom. Danger lurks around every corner, as they not only must stay ahead of Pritchard but avoid slave hunters. Meanwhile, the “quadroon” Teeny, another friend as well as the love interest of Will, is sold by Pritchard to a lawyer called Richard Walther. Walther intends to keep Teeny as not only his slave but his mistress. Steinmann manages to weave an interesting narrative around this plot point, one that examines class, race, and freedom simultaneously. The story features likable protagonists, interesting side characters, and well-written villains. The chapters are mostly short but never feel like they’re lacking in content, a testament to Steinmann’s knack for characterization and emotionally driven storytelling. This work should be enjoyable for anyone searching for a well written emotional tale grounded in a historical narrative.

[Viga Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

WILL is, by far, one of the best historical fiction reads I've ever had! Even when it ended, I hadn't had enough. This is not the first book I've read about the lives of negro slaves before emancipation, but what these slaves had to endure, the daily fear surrounding their lives, and the inhumanity to which they were subjected, especially the women...even if these slaves had papers proving they had been freed by their masters, was unconscionable.

This is a story about the courage, desire and needs, not just of the slaves, but of the kindly white people who risked their own lives and and reputations to help them stay free so they could better themselves and eventually have homes and families for which they could provide without serving white masters. WILL is about the resilience and strength of the human spirit to be free, to utilize its talents to liberate itself from shame and hold its head high.

While Will, Tom, Teeny and so many of the engaging and memorable characters in this novel lived in an era long before 2019, there are people worldwide struggling as they did, making this a timeless novel you should read if the inhumanity of humans to each other is one of your concerns and interests. Bravo. Brilliant writing in every respect!

©Viga Boland, author & book reviewer
http://www.vigaboland.com

[Rachel Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

This moving work of historical fiction tells the story of three slaves as they fight for their freedom. Will and Tom, two slaves living on the Mary Dale plantation, uncover a secret that the plantation’s former owner had organised for the manumission of his slaves upon his death. But this never takes place as a malevolent man named Pritchard claims ownership of the plantation and prevents the former owner’s command from coming to fruition. Staging a courageous escape, Tom and Will flee for their lives and try to make a legal case for their freedom. While much of the book focuses on Will and Tom’s dangerous journey, it also tells the story of Will’s long-time friend, and fellow slave, Teeny. Teeny is given to a lawyer by the cruel Pritchard and suffers horribly at his hands. There are many sad scenes in the novel that depict Teeny’s vulnerable position in society and how she is treated as a sexual object devoid of humanity by many white people. Understandably, due to the nature of the novel’s plot and subject matter there are many distressing scenes. However, Steinmann is clearly intent on highlighting the staggering bravery and resilience of Will, Tom and Teeny and this adds a pervasive sense of hope to the story (without underplaying the grim historical realities of the novel’s setting).

[Willow Moon Greymoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly readable historical novel!

Reading this book was comparable to embarking on a journey into the past. A sinister time in American history with two historically based figures Tom and Sam; that vividly described their experiences as slaves and their tumultuous road to freedom. The language and descriptions that highly talented author and researcher Paul Steinmann used to tell this story were historically accurate and heart-wrenching. American history buffs will certainly appreciate the careful attention to detail and authentic dialogue that reflected the language of the time period.
The odds and frightening situations that Tom and Sam faced were sobering, daunting, and odds-defining. From escaping slavery, abuse, steamboats, trains, running, hiding, and eventually gaining true freedom.

I must issue a “trigger warning” for anyone reading this book. Aspects of the story accurately describe sexual assault, battery, and violence. This could be too-much for some readers. However, I appreciated the honesty the author provided surrounding these dolorous issues.

Excellent book for anyone interested in American slavery history. I’ll definitely remember this book long after I finished reading it.

[T. Vand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will, is a book that falls into historical fiction and is about three slaves escaping their confines in an attempt to reach freedom. The characters are well developed, even the secondary characters, and likable. The prose and flow of the story are easy so the reader can stay submersed in the tale rather than being pulled out of the story because of clunky writing or too much exposition. There are some triggers readers need to be aware of and it would have been nice for that to have been noted upfront in the book description, especially where sexual assault in the book is concerned. There is also a lot of violence, too much in my opinion, and it should be another trigger warning.

[Ashley Hooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Steinmann has given us a classic for modern America! Will, Tom, and Teeny are three slaves who encounter life on the run. While each slave has their own ending, they share a bond that could never be broken, even by slavery. The twists and turns these three encounter are bound to leave you mesmerized. Would definitley consider this a Uncle Tom's Cabin for today's times.