TWILIGHT OF THE DAWN

by Elizabeth Nell Dubus ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 6, 1989

Fans of Dubus' Louisiana-based Cajun trilogy could probably have guessed that this southern historical romance writer had a Civil War story in her, waiting to get out. And here she proves it, chronicling the fate of Felicity Plantation and its young mistress, Gabriele Cannon, who comes of age during the war. Gabriele's father, a moderate, is at the Southern Democratic Convention in Charleston as the story begins, leaving Gabriele's brother Tom in charge of Felicity, and Aunt Mat overseeing hoydenish Gabriele. Tom's college roommate, Alex St. Cyr, shows up with his cousin, a northerner named Jordan Scott, and their arguments over slavery and states' rights spark pretty Gabriele's interest. She's drawn to flippant, flirting Alex, and vaguely aware of undercurrents flowing between the beautiful part-Negro slave, Veronique, and her brother, Tom. Mr. Cannon dies of yellow fever on his return to Louisiana, and afterwards, in New Orleans, Tom helps Veronique escape (since her owner, Aunt Mat, won't set her free). Gabriele realizes she's in love with Alex just as all the young men go marching off to war, leaving her and Aunt Mat to hold the old homestead together as battles rage nearby. Tom will come home minus an arm, then light out with Veronique for Texas; and Gabriele will cleave to the plantation before finally helping Alex escape from a Union prison and retreating to Texas, too. Dubus hauls out all the old Gone with the Wind trappings and serves up another heroine beating her wings against a silver cage. Surprisingly standard fare from a writer who usually manages more individuality.

Pub Date: July 6, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1989

Categories: FICTION