An Affair of Honor: A NovelKnopf, 2001 - 591 pages In this powerful novel--the capstone to Richard Marius's illustrious career--a gripping double murder propels the small, Bible-obsessed town of Bourbonville, Tennessee, into connection with the wider society opening up in the years following World War II. At the center: Charles Alexander, twenty, groomed from birth by his mother to be a Baptist minister, teetering on the edge of his faith. In his last year of college, working late one night at the newspaper office, he accidentally witnesses the murders. The killer is Hope Kirby, World War II hero, member of a large mountain clan of farmers, who has discovered his wife's infidelity. Although Kirby's code of honor requires that he exact vengeance, it won't allow him to kill an innocent bystander, and Charles goes free, promising not to tell what he's seen. But Charles does tell, and we watch, fascinated, as a trial, an appeal, and a new terror unleashed on the countryside draw the entire county into the action. Among the people most closely involved: the skillful, overweight, hard-drinking lawyer for the defense; two Baptist preachers--one liberal, one a strict constructionist--each with a secret to hide; a lady banker determinedly headed for trouble; a big-hearted good- old-boy sheriff; Charles's disturbingly freewheeling, freethinking sometime college girlfriend. Most importantly, we see the Kirby clan: Pappy, whose extraordinary patience, hard work, and self-reliance cause his hardscrabble farm to prosper until he's turned out by the coming of a national park; and the five Kirby sons, who are trying hard to make a new place for themselves in the town. As these and others play their parts in the affair of honor, we see Charles and the Kirbys begin to reexamine their dramatically opposing but equally encapsulated ways of viewing life--fundamentalist Christian and ancient "code of the hills." And as the novel draws to its climactic and satisfying close, we see them--and finally the entire town--profoundly, permanently changed. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Arceneaux asked Baptist believe body Bourbonville brothers called Charles church County dark dead death didn't don't door drink drove everything eyes face father feel felt Finewood front give going gone governor Hamilton hands happened hard head hear heard hell Hope Kirby Hugh Bedford Jane Japs John Judge Kelly kill knew laughed light live Lloyd looked mind Missionary morning mother mountains moved murder never night once Pappy Paul Alexander preacher question remembered Roy Kirby seemed seen Sevier sheriff side silence sitting sometimes sound speak spoke stand stood stop story sure talk tell Tempe things thought told took town trying turned voice waited walked wife woman women