Living around 100 years later, it’s easy to forget how much the Great Depression threatened to rip the social fabric of democratic America apart. Most know of the bank runs. Threats of social anarchy rippled across the country, especially in rural regions, as depicted in this book. Self-government was quickly veering towards becoming a plutocracy, the rule of money and power. Americans who made their way of life on Main Street lived in fear of not enough money. It thus became easier to hide behind strongmen who self-servingly controlled smaller fiefdoms. People were rightfully scared, and this fear fostered social distrust. In this book, Steve Weddle brings these trends to life in a dramatic tale of lawlessness, love, redemption, and the eventual return of social good vibes.
A small county in 1930s Arkansas was veering into lawlessness. Even those with nobler aspirations had to do what they could to survive and took things into their own hands. In this setting, Cottonworth Tomlin, whose parents left him, returned from Honduras to put together his late uncle’s affairs. He was drawn into a crime ring where the only way to gather cash was to kidnap and ransom. Instead of carrying on his uncle’s legacy, he became entwined in a county’s affairs where social distrust was becoming the norm.
The powers-that-be in this county were trying to pull the strings selfishly so that they could escape whatever chaos might come. FDR’s Washington was far away and distrusted. In a life where everyone left him, Cottonworth was trying to establish something lasting, but his life’s prior chaos only seemed to follow him. However, he found traces of love in this community. Even the “bad guys” had redemptive qualities, if only they could escape a troublesome system. This tale is not one of strict moralism but rather of redemption – how given better circumstances, the social mores can improve. As Cottonworth’s eyes open to reality, his clairvoyance helps him better others’ lives.
This book has a lot of darkness to it. Social chaos is not exactly an uplifting topic. But to those that persist, better things come near the end. Like much of life, this county’s people suffered, but they learned to recapture a better life, thanks to one man’s labor. Romance even plays a small but significant role! This book reminded me that even seeming anarchy can lead to better outcomes thanks to the wise steps of individuals.
The County Line: A Novel
By Steve Weddle
Copyright (c) 2024
Lake Union
ISBN13 9781662515262
Page Count: 299
Genre: Historical Fiction
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