The Fiercer Heart

The Fiercer Heart: A Novel of Love and Obsession It was for my daughter who loves the book. She was very happy with it.

This is one of my favorite novels of all times. This is a beautiful love story where the two are torn apart most of their married lives. They loved each other and couldn't stand each other. The story is told from the wifely point of view instead of the military hero. Excellent novel.

I love this book! The Fiercer Heart is not a book I would typically seek out, but I happened to see the jacket cover at the library, and decided to try it. Being a native of Louisville, I was especially drawn into the story after finding out that one family of characters were from my city, and several chapters were set in familiar areas. It was also fascinating to discover that the characters were real, and the story was constructed around old diaries and letters from the family. Ms. Gilchrist has done a wonderful job in transporting the reader back in time. The 1800's is an era I do not know much about, but the author describes in vivid detail so well you truly feel like you're there. By the end (well, way before the end of the book) you're rooting for the characters, and feel emotionally moved at times (also something that does not usually happen to me!). I've recommended this book to my book club as well as several friends -- and am hoping they love it as much as I do.

In 1838 New York aristocrat Lieutenant Philip Kearny reports to duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri where he meets the sister-in-law of the commanding officer, Kentuckian Diana Bullitt. A few years later, he learns that several men are courting her in Louisville so he races there to suddenly propose. She accepts understanding that her mother will sell her into marriage anyway. As he goes off to war seemingly around the world, she mourns the loss of their infant daughter while ignoring his philandering. However, when he loses his arm during the Mexican War, she tries to be by his side, but he lost more than just a limb as the courageous Phillip suffers badly from combat fatigue. Unable to cope with his wild emotions and his women, Diana does the unthinkable for a 1850s southern belle; she divorces Phillip for she chooses freedom to start over in spite of the scorn and danger. Soon the Civil war will further divide loyalties. This is a terrific insightful historical fiction that concentrates on the relationship between Diana and Phillip. The tale goes quite deep into providing a vivid panorama of America in the two decades prior to the Civil War. Through the eyes of the lead duet, and the strong support cast too, fans will taste how ideologically divided the nation was leading up to the war (sounds somewhat familiar today). Fans of powerfully descriptive historical dramas based on true events and people, and genuine nineteenth century documents will want to read this astute look at Antebellum America through the real lives of a famous married couple. Harriet Klausner