Overview

Arthur Campbell, one of several colored guides at a hunting club in north Mississippi in the 1930s, a prescient, expert outdoorsman though barely literate, enters the employ of a prominent Memphis family until the late 1950s, profoundly impacting them even across the Pacific, becoming a second father to the narrator (in the absence of his father) through the War years and after... Duck Hunting in Quicksand is a marvelous tale of heroism and humility, from the melting pot of Delta blues on Beale Street to the Pacific theater of WWII. Ensign Charles Deane Smith was listed MIA after his ship, the USS HOUSTON, was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese in the early hours of March 1, 1942, a surprise attack on the flotilla of Allied warships. His survival would not be known by his family for many months, but that morning and the next day Deane rescued many men, leading them to the isle of Java until they were captured by the Japanese after 3 days. Ensign Smith's three-and-a-half-year ordeal as a Japanese POW was foretold by humble hunting guide Arthur Campbell well before the War began. Soon after America declared War in December 1941, the hunting and fishing retreat where he was employed closed, and Arthur Campbell sought employment in the household of one of the club members, Charlie Walterlane of Memphis. News of the demise of the HOUSTON had been the catalyst for all adult male Walterlane and Smith family members not already engaged to enlist or regain their commissions in the armed forces. Without their father or uncles, the five Walerlane children, especially the teenage boys Billy and Carlo, found a role model in Arthur Campbell. Carlo tells the story from his teen years until he became a young man: Arthur unintentionally became the family leader, and through their many adventures during and after the War, teaching his outdoors and life skills, was beloved by all Walterlanes until he died in 1957.

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Reviews

"""Will Sonnet has unearthed a captivating tale long buried beneath the sacred duck hunting grounds of the Mississippi Delta. Told with humor and heart, Duck Hunting in Quicksand will surely stand the test of time."" - Lisa Patton Author of Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter and Southern as a Second Language ""Duck Hunting in Quicksand is a good story well told. It is also a valuable historical representation of the absurdly counter-productive racism and institutionalized cruelty of the Jim Crow South. Across the universe, the incredible cruelty and racism Ensign CD Smith and other Allied officers endured in his account of their years as Japanese POWs is a striking parallel. Throw in Beale Street in its bluesy, beer-barrel heyday, duck hunting in the biggest North American flyway, the cast of eccentric supporting characters, and you have one fine read."" -Robert O'Connor Author of Gumptionade ""The first clear-eyed realistic view I have ever read of mid-century racial relationships in the heart of the Old South as it transitioned into the modern age... This book affords a glimpse into a surprising aspect that explains why the rigid political polarization of today is missing something essential. Quicksand, indeed.."" - PJ Ceren Author of Waking Remembering and Joseph ""Author Will Sonnet has lovingly crafted a tale of heroism and humility against the backdrop of a war that has plenty of action and atmosphere but also a strong emotional core. The character dynamics are richly portrayed, with Arthur at the heart of it all as his dynamic dialogue and narrative presentation charms the heart of the reader just as much as the characters who meet him during the journey of the novel. Readers who are fascinated by the impact of war will certainly find harrowing and suspenseful moments that look back on human history with a rightfully judgmental eye, yet these moments are also balanced with joy and hope. Sonnet masterfully captures the essence of camaraderie, resilience, and the enduring influence of an unsung hero. The narrative is both historically enlightening and emotionally resonant, making it a compelling read for those intrigued by the intertwining threads of war, family, and the power of the human spirit."" -K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite K.C. Finn is the author of many novels in several genres, including Mind's Eye (YA fiction), and Me, Myself and I (non-fiction) about personal struggles with ME and CFS. ""An incredible, historical page-turner about the early 20th century, heroic perseverance in the Mississippi Delta and across the Pacific during WWII."" - ASLAN TAYLOR Publishers"

Author Information

Will Sonnet grew up hunting and fishing in the Mississippi Delta, trying to keep up with master outdoorsmen: his father and his two brothers. Spring turkey season steals him back west from his home in Nashville. Duck Hunting in Quicksand is his first novel, 1st edition released in hardback September 2023.

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