THE DISENCHANTMENT OF NARCISSA TARVER

In Birdwell’s historical novel, a progressive white Southern woman is forced to choose between her family and the truth.

Narcissa “Cissa” Tarver was a surprise baby to her aging parents, born a decade after the Civil War in Mississippi. Her Black nurse, Julia, is her best, if not only, friend; a lonely child, Cissa spends much of her time playing in nature, especially with her favorite barn cat. Cissa’s future changes at age 6, when an untreated spider bite leads to gangrene and the loss of two fingers. She learns to write left-handed and discovers that she enjoys writing; as a teenager, she’s hired to cover social events for the local newspaper. As a reporter, she questions the attitudes of racist Southerners, especially the sentiments of her older brother, Duncan, who runs for office. Her decision to stand up to him results in tension with other family members. She also develops a mutual attraction with Hector Davis, a detective who’s seeking evidence against Duncan and his followers. Her father wills the family home to her, but she must take care of her elderly mother, and she struggles to find a way to build a life of her own. In this story, loosely based on Birdwell’s family history, the author has created a fascinating character in Cissa, who’s always determined to do what’s right, no matter what it may cost her personally. Cissa forthrightly questions why only white men can participate in the electoral process; she also yearns to be a reporter covering important stories, but her circumstances always keep her from making that leap. With the huge family sizes of the era, and the high child-mortality rates, readers may sometimes find it difficult to keep track of who’s who among the Tarvers, let alone their extended relations. Nonetheless, Birdwell has built a strong period piece on the foundation of an intriguing woman’s story.

An engaging and thought-provoking work, led by a well-developed protagonist.