Book Review: The Court-Martial of Charlie Newell

Fiction/Historical

The Court-Martial of Charlie Newell

Gerard Shirar

iUniverse

2008

ISBN: 978-0-595-44491-5

Soft cover

314 pages

"Prejudice was something that many harbored, but few were willing to admit to."

Gerard Shirar's third novel, The Court-Martial of Charlie Newell, is a dynamic story of an intelligent, hardworking African American man who takes a stand as a conscientious objector during the World War I draft in 1917. The punishment Newell endures as a result of his resistance against the U.S. Army is excessive and rooted in a tradition of racial prejudice.

"We got to hate something or someone to make up for whatever is inadequate in ourselves."

Newell and two other members of the Church of God and the Saints of Christ are escorted to Fort Caswell in Oak Island, North Carolina by the Onslow County sheriff. The three men failed to report to duty after being drafted because their church does not believe in war and observes the Sabbath on Saturday. They are turned over by their minister, Reverend Brother William Gromes, who wanted to avoid the sheriff bringing in a white mob to violently take the three black men.

Once the three are inducted and assigned duties in the stables, the issue of working on Saturday becomes a huge point of contention with the frustrated Lieutenant Colonel Chase who is unhappy in his stalled career and also a not so closeted bigot. Chase does his research and becomes obsessed with court-martialing the three men. Ultimately, it is Newell who absorbs the brunt of Chase's irrational determination.

Throughout this story, Newell is constantly faced with difficult decisions and turns to his faith for the answers. As the reader takes this journey with Newell, which covers more than six years, it is easy to empathize with the thoughtful, spiritual young man. On the other hand, one also wonders why Newell could not find it in himself to relax his dedication to the principles of his church even after his own minister gave him an out: "You got to follow the law, Charlie...God wants you to be law-abiding and follow the law, even though it's against his will."

"His life counts for something."

Shirar has written a rich, historical piece with a balance of detail covering military law and the social climate of the early 1900's.  The author (who penned The Many Indiscretions of Arty Boyle and Nantucket Summer) also skillfully developed all of his characters allowing a peek at the bad in Newell, and the good in those whose prejudice was blatant and others whose cowardice did not allow them to break free from the predominant white belief system. Newell is a magnificent character who struggles quietly against authority, tangles with a lapse of faith, and rebounds even in the face of unwarranted adversity.

The Court-Martial of Charlie Newell is excellent and should be required reading for all high school and college students.

Melissa Levine

For Independent Professional Book Reviewers

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