Landsman: A Novel

By Peter Charles Melman
Novel, 323 pp., 2007. Counterpoint Press, 387 Park Ave., South, New York, NY 10016, $24.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Blake A. Magner
Blake A. Magner is the Book Review Editor of Civil War News. He makes his living as an editor, writer, cartographer and photographer of Civil War history. He is author of At Peace With Honor: The Civil War Burials of Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Review:
Landsman is the tale of a young Jewish lad from the streets of New Orleans who, after the murder of his father, joins the 3rd Louisiana Infantry. Elias Abrams is the orphaned bastard son of the man he believes he is being held responsible for murdering.

Abrams' introduction to the brutality of war comes at the battle of Wilson's Creek. During the assault on the Union line he meets John Lee Carlson who is to become a friend, confidant, teacher and almost father figure as they suffer the agonies of battle and camp life in the early stages of the war.

After the battle Abrams is visited by a chaplain who asks him to correspond with a young Jewish girl back in New Orleans, hoping that the letters would bring him some happiness. The letters ultimately result in young love between Abrams and Miss Nora Bloom.

Life in New Orleans is never far away for Abrams as he soon discovers two members of the regiment are street toughs, much like himself, who he thinks followed him into the army for reasons that are no good. The three eventually come to blows later in the story when Abrams confronts them.

Abrams is eventually assigned to a detail that heads west in the effort to recruit Indians into Confederate service. While there a Yankee patrol chases part of the detail, containing Abrams, and he is seriously wounded.

Given a furlough, our hero heads back to New Orleans where he meets with his old street gang, which is now run by his former friend and enemy Silas Wolfe. Wolfe is the one who committed the murder Abrams is running from. Abrams also visits Miss Nora, after which thoughts of love increase.

Abrams rejoins his regiment and fights in the battle of Pea Ridge. There he is captured and basically tortured by a sadistic Yankee sergeant. Released and taken pity on by a Union officer, Abrams is nursed back toward health. Things do not go as well for his friend Carlson who was blinded by an artillery explosion.

The two are paroled and return to New Orleans where Carlson returns to the joy of his family. Abrams' return is not as happy as Nora's sister has been raped by one of his old gang members with the blessing of Wolfe.

The story culminates with Wolfe and Abrams playing poker. The ultimate stakes are a .44-caliber pistol and one bullet which the winner can use to kill the loser. The result - well, I guess you'll have to read the book to find out. Landsman is a well-written and engaging book that keeps the reader on the edge of his seat. It contains some graphic violence and a lot of very strong language, so it is not suggested for younger readers. If you are a fan of novels, I recommend you pick this book up as I believe you will have a satisfying read.