A Separate Country

           Recently, I started reading a novel called A Separate Country by Robert Hicks that can be classified as historical fiction. Set during the time years after the civil war, this novel depicts the shocking life of John Bell Hood, considered as one of the most controversial generals of the Confederate Army. The author quickly grabs the readers attention as he begins to describe the sullen view of New Orleans. The ruthless war may have been over in the country but the shock still runs through the people as they recollect themselves and fight against the effects the catastrophic war brought on them and their families. In the beginning the author describes New Orleans, one of the hardest hit places during the war in the sense that can be compared to a fallen baby who is trying to get up. Scenes of people working day and night trying to bring up the fallen economic status of the city and neighboring areas around them. The atmosphere of the book is sad and distressing as the author continues to describe the plight of the people living in New Orleans all contributing to growth of the US once again. As the book's setting is farther revealed, any reader can conclude that "happy" was not bouncing around at this time. Even with the war over the people are dissatisfied with the results that came about after four year long war ending causing tremendous losses on both sides.
        
            As the main character, general John Bell Hood, is introduced in the novel the readers can see how the war swallowed up the general's life. However, the author vividly describes the place where Hood lives- "I walked under drooping banana trees and between two dwarf date palms bristling with spikes, and then I was in the Hood's years, a green wrestle of vines and swamp grasses twisted up together in an awful fight" (8). That line shows a great deal of diction and figurative language that forms a picture in the readers mind of what the scene is in front of the character. Not just that, but there are many other lines in the book so far where the author talks about the setting in great detail that helps us as the readers get a good understanding of where the book is taking place in.