|
''Freedom'' is a historical novel by American essayist William Safire, set in the early years of the American Civil War. It concludes with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The novel shows how its main characters grapple with the dilemmas of political morality raised by secession and war. A particular focus is the challenge of reconciling individual rights and liberties with preserving the nation when its existence is threatened (a topic Safire would return to in his non-fiction writing, following the September 11 attacks).〔http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/15/opinion/essay-seizing-dictatorial-power.html?ref=williamsafire〕〔http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/05/opinion/rights-of-terror-suspects.html?ref=williamsafire〕 The novel shows how this process of wrestling with moral dilemmas in the political setting led, step by step, to the Emancipation Proclamation. As compared with other historical novels, ''Freedom'' is unusual in the volume of detail provided about its sources by the author. In a lengthy appendix, or "underbook" as Safire refers to it, he goes through the novel chapter by chapter, and in some cases line by line, distinguishing fact from fiction, citing his source materials, and weighing the arguments on both sides of various historical controversies.〔http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/freedom-by-william-safire/〕 == Characters == ''Freedom'' is divided into nine "Books" of 9-25 chapters each, except for Book Nine, which is 47 chapters in length. Each book is named for one of the novels's major characters, whose particular moral challenge is examined in it. (However, the point of view may shift away from the title character for large portions of a book.) The title characters of the nine books are as follows: # John C. Breckenridge, US Senator (expelled for treason), Confederate General. # Anna Ella Carroll, political activist, lobbyist and writer. # Edwin M. Stanton, US Secretary of War. # Ulysses S. Grant, Union General. # George B. McClellan, Union General. # Salmon P. Chase, US Secretary of the Treasury. # The Negro, commanding officer of black Union soldiers (name unknown). # McClellan Again. # Abraham Lincoln, US President. Other characters who play continuing and important roles in the novel include the following: * John Hay, second secretary to President Lincoln. * Mathew Brady, photographer. * Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Washington socialite, spy for the Confederacy. * Allan Pinkerton, detective, chief of Intelligence to General McClellan. * Elizabeth Keckley, free black seamstress and confidante to Mrs. Lincoln. * Kate Chase, daughter of Salmon P. Chase. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Freedom (William Safire novel)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|