"Lay Down My Sword and Shield"

"Lay Down My Sword and Shield" is James Lee Burke's first book in his Hackberry Holland series and also the first of Burke's books that I can remember reading.  This novel was published in 1971.

Burke's descriptive prose really makes the story come alive with the sights, sounds, and smells sketched out throughout the book making me (as the reader) feel that I'm right there in the story.

Hackberry or Hack Holland was a corpsman in the Korean War and survived a brutal Chinese prisoner of war camp that has left him with nightmares.  He comes from generations of Texans and is the son of a former Congressman and the grandson of a sheriff and justice of the peace.

Hack and his wife, Verisa, live on the family "farm" (where his ancestors are buried).  Hack has  thoroughbred horses and his wife has her social life.  Although their marriage was a very happy one in its early days, the years and Hack's demons have taken their toll and the couple live their separate lives now.

Hack is a successful criminal attorney in practice with his brother, Bailey.  Bailey and Verisa have ambitions for Hack to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Congressman but Hack has a way of sabotaging their dreams with his heavy drinking and partying.

When he goes to the aid of a buddy from the war, he meets a fascinating young woman, Rie, who, along with his friend, is involved in battling for rights for migrant workers.  The encounter changes his life and his future.

Not only is Burke a good storyteller but he gives us a history lesson with his insights into the racism that was going on at the time this story was set -- and the battle for not only civil rights for blacks but fair wages and living conditions for migrant workers.  He paints a picture that has me totally sympathetic with both.  I look forward to reading more of his work.  pazt