NEVERHOME

Laird Hunt’s lyrical prose delivers the story of Constance "Ash" Thompson, a woman who takes her husband’s place and fights in the Civil War. Narrator Mary Stuart Masterson offers a finely crafted portrait. She makes it clear that where Ash is intrepid, Bartholomew, her husband, is fearful. She makes it seem natural that Ash should go to war, leaving Bartholomew to tend the farm. Disguised as a man, Ash carries off the masquerade, enduring atrocities and horrors until she’s betrayed. Masterson’s performance grows even more intense when, because it is believed that no sane woman would cross-dress, Ash is institutionalized, humiliated, and tortured. Hunt’s impeccable research provides insight into society’s historically restrictive gender attitudes, and Masterson’s performance keeps the energy high and the characters believable. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2014]