The Hornet's Nest is a historical fiction which takes place during the American Revolutionary War. Primarily focused on Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, the narrative considers how events in England and New England affect the characters. Much of the book revolves around Ethan Pratt a frontiersman, and his wife Epsey.
Ethan farms but has blacksmithing and carpentry skills. An inspirational hero. In the early 1770's he sees the injustices forced upon him and his neighbors by an uncaring government. Solutions are sought for, but unsuprisingly, are met with violence.
As with war, the pace of things is unbearably slow; until they become incredibly fast. Due to his skills, Ethan has opportunities and is better suited to uncertainty than others in the book. Even in today's environment, there are characters who's opinions about how things ought to be are outweighed by their ability to make their neighborhood's more perfect.
When in elementary school, I learned American history from a North-Eastern perspective. The battlefields of Boston and New York loomed large on the syllibi. This book made me appreciate the Southern perspective. The naval tactics and their implications. I'd previously hadn't considered who the American Indians supported in the war and why. With many recent movies and books I've been exposed to, I've gained an appreciation of the multi-faction disruptions. I'm thinking of the Expanse where three groups -- Earthers, Martians, and belters hold a fragile peace -- until there's war. It's interesting to see the different factions among the American frontiersmen. There are those that are going to fight for the principle. Others, who will fight because their family have much to lose. And others, who spy for the other side who's morals and belief systems are more akin to theirs.
