Books: Lincoln's Dreams (1987)

“For Jeff Johnston, a young historical researcher for a Civil War novelist, his reality is redefined on a bitter cold night near the close of a lingering, brutal winter. He meets Annie, an intense and lovely young woman suffering from vivid, intense nightmares (seems to be dreaming General Lee's dreams). Haunted by the dreamer and her unrelenting dreams, Jeff leads Annie on an emotional odyssey through the heartland of the Civil War in search of a cure. On long-silenced battlefields their relationship blossoms–two obsessed lovers linked by unbreakable chains of history, torn by a duty that could destroy them both.”

 

While Willis had been publishing short stories and novellas for years, Lincoln’s Dreams is her debut novel released in 1987. The book is about parapsychology, metaphysical speculation, death, and love. Willis explores the social sciences, something she would continue to do in latter works. she weaves technology. The book portrays a young man’s unrequited love for a woman who might or might not be experiencing reincarnation or precognition, and whose outlook verges on suicidal. The historical research is top notch. The Civil War scenes well drawn out, they felt intimate and personal. But some of the characters, especially Annie, come across too trusting of both creepy Richard and Jeff.

 

And the truth of the matter, nothing much really happens here –despite it being a clever and original idea. It runs rather smoothly, but I did expect something to happen. But nothing really does. Also, as another review pointed out, Willis was –maybe- being too clever:

 

“When you look at the fact that Traveller's (Lee’s horse) original name was Jefferson Davis, and the protagonist is Jeff, and as he says in the end, he is sold to Annie (the Lee stand-in) in a way, which gives the ending further echoes. But still. Too clever, too obvious. ”