The Long Road Home is the fascinating story of Charles Andre, an orphan living under the care of three Sisters of the Marianite Order of the Holy Cross, spending his days scrounging for food for himself and the other children. By fifteen, he has cultivated a sense of survival along with a sense of love and empathy for his companions.
Though he is not a fighter, he sees an opportunity to improve his lot by joining the Confederate Army with his best friend. However, he is rejected, so he decides to do the next best thing: sign up with the other side.
Smith manages, in The Long Road Home, what most historical writers, fiction and non-fiction, cannot.
Most of the novel follows the young man, who is made a drummer, with his regiment during key moments of the Civil War, and readers are treated with detailed narratives of the whole of that bloody conflict, including the work undertaken when not in battle and the rumors that circulate among the enlisted ranks. Despite his lack of education, Andre is a relentless learner and keen observer, and thus gets much more out of his experience than how to beat out calls on the drum.
The latter part of the novel follows the young man as he travels and tries to find his way once the war is over. He spends time with a traveling salesman, learning the trade, and then makes his way to a farm, where his hard work and intelligence make him valuable almost immediately.
Smith manages, in The Long Road Home, what most historical writers, fiction and non-fiction, cannot. Readers are provided fine, engrossing, and well-researched detail without any sacrificing of the narrative. The main character was someone I enjoyed learning about, page after page. And the supporting cast were not mere players to move the action, but intriguing people as well. The story moved at a steady pace along with its strong description. I think most will find the reading experience gratifying.
