Crimson Stained the Bayou Pines: A Novel of Political Struggle in the Deep South

by Brian Harrell

In the early 1900s, socialist Walter Dietz arrives in a remote section of the American gulf coast. Lake Charles, Louisiana, is a small Cajun town, bustling with lumberjacks and wealthy sawmill owners. At the time of Dietz's arrival, the economic affluence of the wealthy is increasing, widening the social gap between the business owners and the men working in the pine woods to the north. Dietz sees this widening gap as an opportunity-an opportunity to become a different kind of missionary. He will not spread the Christian gospels of old in this tiny bayou town; instead, he will spread the political ideals of socialism. As word of his "preaching" spreads, Dietz finds himself surrounded by curious disciples. Even as his influence expands, he cannot foresee the damage his words will ultimately cause. A study of socialism and emotional components of the human condition, Crimson Stained the Bayou Pines presents a historical narrative focused on early twentieth-century America. Dietz's journey into the Deep South will have catastrophic consequences for the town of Lake Charles, but are his words to blame? Or are new ideas always judged with an iron fist, especially when steadfast intolerance governs the souls of men?

316 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2010