Plowman: Harvest of Grain and Innocence by Charles Bruckerhoff
What's It About?
When Stella and Hana discover their great-grandparents' WWII journals and a wartime journal from Vietnam, they decide to compile the accounts from the journals into a single book. But the loss of their father in Afghanistan convinces them to instead write an eye-opening treatise on the reality of war, turning their focus to changing social, cultural, moral, and military priorities.War has been a fixture of human existence for as long as we’ve existed on this planet, and as difficult as it is to admit, this will probably never change. Conflict is inevitable, and over the course of American history we can clearly see the scars it has left behind. As with any phenomenon however there are always those looking to profit off it, and to do that, narratives are rewritten and circumstances reframed until these horrific conflicts are justified and glorified.
Thankfully, however, counter to these narratives is Plowman: Harvest of Grain and Innocence, a poignant story of war and the carnage it leaves in its wake written by author Charles Bruckerhoff. Throughout the heart-wrenching story, evocative prose and pertinent message, I can say with certainty that Plowman has left a lasting impact on myself and will undoubtedly do so with readers of all backgrounds, as war touches us all.
War Touches All
When two young girls, Stella and Hana, discover their great-grandparents’ WWII journals and a grandparent’s wartime journal from Vietnam, they are inspired by the heroics and decide to compile the accounts from the journals into a single book. However, when Stella’s father is suddenly killed in action in Afghanistan, their ideas about the book’s themes change radically. What once seemed like true patriots undertaking heroic acts in the name of greater good, suddenly is revealed to be the mindless, pointless slaughter that it truly is.
When the girls receive this news, they do a complete 180 and decide to instead write an eye-opening treatise on the reality of war, stripping away the veneer placed over it by those who stand to benefit from it. After this devastating event which unfortunately is all too common, Stella and Hana turn their focus to changing social, cultural, moral, and military priorities, starting from the ground and working their way all the way up to the highest seats of power.
Evocative Prose and Heart-Wrenching Loss
My favorite aspect of this book was without a doubt the evocative prose. Pulling absolutely no punches, Bruckerhoff depicts in heart-wrenching detail the effects of sudden loss on families and communities:
“Stella, overwhelmed with grief, collapsed, hugging the baby in her womb. Hana caught her fall. Held Stella up, and hugged her. They sobbed uncontrollably over losing, years ago now, a beloved father and uncle, a son, and a husband. Army Captain Jedediah Young, like his buddies, and other soldiers in other wars, are the ultimate fighters and patriots for America. For freedom and justice for all. Stella looked at Hana through eyes red and swollen with tears, ‘The war in Afghanistan really was a wrong war! Daddy, Daddy, I love you. Daddy, I miss you so much. And Mom does, too. Our whole family. Oh God!’ She sobbed uncontrollably.”
Bruckerhoff’s masterful prose is heavy with emotion and does an excellent job showing, rather than telling readers, the message of his book. By watching this family be torn apart by their loss and the two main characters be forced to grow up before their time in such a regrettable manner has left me thinking long after I finished the book.
I also appreciated the accessibility of the book. The structure and writing style are efficient in delivering the author’s points while remaining concise and simple enough for readers of any age and background to comprehend. While treatises on the effects of war are often dense and esoteric, Plowman is anything but.
As I’ve mentioned, this book has left an impression on me and I’m confident it will do the same for any reader fortunate enough to pick it up.
About Charles Bruckerhoff:
Charles Bruckerhoff started life in Augusta, Missouri in 1947, in a small clapboard house on the bluffs above The Big Muddy. He spent many days exploring the hills and valleys, fields and streams of the Ozark Mountain foothills.
At 19 he joined the United States Army and served in Vietnam. Returning to the USA in 1969, he went to college, studying English, literature, philosophy and research methods. In 1995, he created a firm, Curriculum Research and Evaluation, Inc. (www.creus.com) focused on the social and cultural life of poor children. He believes the best way to gain personal knowledge, social skills, moral behavior, spirituality and healing for children and adults is the real world, out the back door with friends.
Currently, Charles works as the author and publisher of Sequoia House Books. He also devotes time to shepherding the firm, now run by his lovely wife, Theresa, and to family life with four sons, six grandchildren, friends and neighbors. His hobbies include community service, artisan bread baking, gardening, traditional quilting, and studying American history, the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. He places no limit on new adventures.
