As I’m revising Chapter 9 of my Lincoln novel, I’m emersed in the life of Elijah Lovejoy and the position he occupies in the story at this point. The danger surrounding him is no longer uncertain. Those who oppose him are gathering openly and speaking of what they intend to do. There is no real doubt about the threat to his life.
And he knows it.
What makes this moment particularly interesting is not only the danger itself, but the people who stand with him. Only a few are abolitionists. Many are not drawn into the conflict by the issue of slavery alone. Instead, they are men who believe in upholding the law–in the right to protect property, in the right to defend oneself, and in the idea that a mob should not be allowed to decide what is permitted. Lincoln was very much against mob violence.
In response to the growing threat, they begin to organize. what forms is not simply a group of supporters, but a militia, gathering in defense against mob violence. That creates a different kind of tension in the story. Lovejoy stands at the center of it, not only as a man of conviction, but as someone others are now relying on. His decisions affect not only himself, but those who have chosen to stand with him.
Writing this part of the book is less about what will happen–that is already known–and more about understanding what it felt like to stand in that moment, when everything is moving toward a confrontation that cannot easily be avoided.
Current projects:
- My book: revising Chapter 9 as the conflict intensifies.
- Edward Bryant: continuing to review stories for the next publication.
There are moments in history when the question is not only what a person believes, but whether the law itself will hold.
Thanks for reading and walking alongside me.
The View From The Imaginarium 