Overview

In His Name is Jacob Harris (2ndEdition), the main characters of the book are loosely based on the author's great-great grandfather, Jacob, and Jacob's brother, Lorenzo. They were adopted when quite young after Indians massacre the rest of their family. They are plunged into an historical background that will be surprising to many readers, such as the Confederate Navy, connections to Canada and England, secret societies, and the financing of the Confederacy. Although a love story is woven into their adventures, the backdrop of the romance is the Civil War and the Confederacy's effort to keep the Southern way of life. The story introduces many aspects of the Confederacy's attempts to win the war; their naval threat against Union shipping, the smuggling of arms from Liverpool to the port of Charleston, the Confederate Secret Service's subversive activities in Canada, and how secret societies such as the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Sons of Liberty, and the Copperheads Order sabotaged northern transportation networks and even national elections. Elements of the Civil War not often discussed in other books are included in this book. Surprises in it might challenge current thinking on the War Between the States and the brave men who fought it. Betrayal, conspiracy, romance, and adventure are the themes portrayed in this narrative. The story is more than romance, spies, Confederate organizations, and the conflict of opposing armies, however. It is a tale about people, the choices they make, about families separated by war and what that sacrifice means, and about men and womentrying to rebuild their lives after the war. It is also about loss, as well as acceptance. Although the previous edition ended on a cliffhanger with no promise of resolution, this 2ndEdition contains one additional chapter that changes the ending.

Full Product Details

9780998221540

Table of Contents

Reviews

"1. His Name is Jacob Harris is historical fiction at its best. It approaches the subject from a different perspective than the typical subject of slavery. The historical background covers many areas that will be surprising, such as the Confederate Navy, connections to Canada and England, secret societies, and the financing of the Confederacy. All this is woven into a love story about a spy in love with two women. Along the way it gives a moving description of the families of those involed and the sacrificies they made. It is an interesting book well worth the read. . . .This book speaks to the commitment and loss of people on the losing side. -Sharon Sinner (a descendant of Jacob McFarland on whom the character Jacob Harris is loosely based.) 2. His Name is Jacob Harris is an accurate depiction of times during and immediately after the Civil War. Having personally participated in fifteen Civil War reenactments at Gettysburg on Little Round Top hill, I can attest to the author's description of the terrain and disposition of forces on the face and at the bottom of the hill. More important, it well portrays the evacuation of Southern forces as they fled to their staging areas and evacuated towards Richmond. The latter part of the book which describes the difficulties facing the disheartened Southern soldiers returning home to uncertainties and a myriad of emotional decisions is particularly noteworthy. -Tony Casey (Company B, 9th Virginia Calvary, Boerne, Texas) 3. Although the author's title of His Name is Jacob Harris, ""a Confederate spy torn between his love for two women"" suggests a romantic plot, don't be scared off if you aren't into romances. . . .While Jacob's devotion to both his wife Annie and his lover Lillie is an integral part of the story, it's only one part of the story. The backdrop of the romance is the Civil War and the Confederacy's attempt to keep the Southern way of life. . . .Jacob and Lilly team up as spies and aid General Beauregard in his defense of Charleston. . . .We learn about the Confederate naval threat against Union shipping and the smuggling of arms from Liverpool to the port of Charleston. . . . about the Confederate Secret Service's subversive activities in Canada. . . .discover secret societies such as the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Sons of Liberty and the Copperheads Order, . . .introduced to historical figures such as Jesse James and John Wilkes Booth, as well as many Civil War generals. . . .It's a tale about people and the choices they make, about families separated by war and what that sacrifice means, and about men and women trying to rebuild their lives after the war. It's also about loss, as well as acceptance. This is a book that might surprise you. -Kendall County Genealogical Society. 4. In His Name is Jacob Harris, the author intertwines many themes to create a fascinating story. . . .The plot of the story was also well built. All events flowed in a way that was easy to understand. . . .The use of vivid description in the story was mind-blowing. The depiction of Burke's Garden, Virginia, was so superbly done that I felt like visiting the place. This was not the only place where description was done well. It occurred in every instance where the author was describing anything. Some Illustrations and maps were also included and complimented the descriptions well. -- An official 4-STAR review by Kibetious of Oniinebookclub.org."

1. His Name is Jacob Harris is historical fiction at its best. It approaches the subject from a different perspective than the typical subject of slavery. The historical background covers many areas that will be surprising, such as the Confederate Navy, connections to Canada and England, secret societies, and the financing of the Confederacy. All this is woven into a love story about a spy in love with two women. Along the way it gives a moving description of the families of those involed and the sacrificies they made. It is an interesting book well worth the read. . . .This book speaks to the commitment and loss of people on the losing side. -Sharon Sinner (a descendant of Jacob McFarland on whom the character Jacob Harris is loosely based.) 2. His Name is Jacob Harris is an accurate depiction of times during and immediately after the Civil War. Having personally participated in fifteen Civil War reenactments at Gettysburg on Little Round Top hill, I can attest to the author's description of the terrain and disposition of forces on the face and at the bottom of the hill. More important, it well portrays the evacuation of Southern forces as they fled to their staging areas and evacuated towards Richmond. The latter part of the book which describes the difficulties facing the disheartened Southern soldiers returning home to uncertainties and a myriad of emotional decisions is particularly noteworthy. -Tony Casey (Company B, 9th Virginia Calvary, Boerne, Texas) 3. Although the author's title of His Name is Jacob Harris, a Confederate spy torn between his love for two women suggests a romantic plot, don't be scared off if you aren't into romances. . . .While Jacob's devotion to both his wife Annie and his lover Lillie is an integral part of the story, it's only one part of the story. The backdrop of the romance is the Civil War and the Confederacy's attempt to keep the Southern way of life. . . .Jacob and Lilly team up as spies and aid General Beauregard in his defense of Charleston. . . .We learn about the Confederate naval threat against Union shipping and the smuggling of arms from Liverpool to the port of Charleston. . . . about the Confederate Secret Service's subversive activities in Canada. . . .discover secret societies such as the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Sons of Liberty and the Copperheads Order, . . .introduced to historical figures such as Jesse James and John Wilkes Booth, as well as many Civil War generals. . . .It's a tale about people and the choices they make, about families separated by war and what that sacrifice means, and about men and women trying to rebuild their lives after the war. It's also about loss, as well as acceptance. This is a book that might surprise you. -Kendall County Genealogical Society. 4. In His Name is Jacob Harris, the author intertwines many themes to create a fascinating story. . . .The plot of the story was also well built. All events flowed in a way that was easy to understand. . . .The use of vivid description in the story was mind-blowing. The depiction of Burke's Garden, Virginia, was so superbly done that I felt like visiting the place. This was not the only place where description was done well. It occurred in every instance where the author was describing anything. Some Illustrations and maps were also included and complimented the descriptions well. -- An official 4-STAR review by Kibetious of Oniinebookclub.org.

1. His Name is Jacob Harris is historical fiction at its best. It approaches the subject from a different perspective than the typical subject of slavery. The historical background covers many areas that will be surprising, such as the Confederate Navy, connections to Canada and England, secret societies, and the financing of the Confederacy. All this is woven into a love story about a spy in love with two women. Along the way it gives a moving description of the families of those involed and the sacrificies they made. It is an interesting book well worth the read. . . .This book speaks to the commitment and loss of people on the losing side. -Sharon Sinner (a descendant of Jacob McFarland on whom the character Jacob Harris is loosely based.) 2. His Name is Jacob Harris is an accurate depiction of times during and immediately after the Civil War. Having personally participated in fifteen Civil War reenactments at Gettysburg on Little Round Top hill, I can attest to the author's description of the terrain and disposition of forces on the face and at the bottom of the hill. More important, it well portrays the evacuation of Southern forces as they fled to their staging areas and evacuated towards Richmond. The latter part of the book which describes the difficulties facing the disheartened Southern soldiers returning home to uncertainties and a myriad of emotional decisions is particularly noteworthy. -Tony Casey (Company B, 9th Virginia Calvary, Boerne, Texas) 3. Although the author's title of His Name is Jacob Harris, a Confederate spy torn between his love for two women suggests a romantic plot, don't be scared off if you aren't into romances. . . .While Jacob's devotion to both his wife Annie and his lover Lillie is an integral part of the story, it's only one part of the story. The backdrop of the romance is the Civil War and the Confederacy's attempt to keep the Southern way of life. . . .Jacob and Lilly team up as spies and aid General Beauregard in his defense of Charleston. . . .We learn about the Confederate naval threat against Union shipping and the smuggling of arms from Liverpool to the port of Charleston. . . . about the Confederate Secret Service's subversive activities in Canada. . . .discover secret societies such as the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Sons of Liberty and the Copperheads Order, . . .introduced to historical figures such as Jesse James and John Wilkes Booth, as well as many Civil War generals. . . .It's a tale about people and the choices they make, about families separated by war and what that sacrifice means, and about men and women trying to rebuild their lives after the war. It's also about loss, as well as acceptance. This is a book that might surprise you. -Kendall County Genealogical Society. 4. The author of His Name is Jacob Harris conducted intense research dated to over 150 years ago to bring about the thrilling effect in the book. It's a piece of work that deserves a prize. Betrayal, conspiracy, romance, and adventure are the themes portrayed in this awesome narration. I liked it that the author is keen to capture the historic moments during the Civil War for the reader's benefit. I have read a few historic genres but this one seems to surpass all. I also liked the fact that the soldier's family lives and the hardships they face away from their families for extended periods of time are not left out.... - mumocar (Reviewer at onlinebookclub.org)

Author Information

Although J.J. McFarland was born and raised in eastern Indiana, his father, grandfather, great grandfather and great-great grandfather were born in Burke's Garden Virginia. As a child and through his teenage years, he regularly visited family members still residing on the family homestead in Burke's Garden. Since his teenage years, J.J. has been an avid reader of spy novels and dreamed of one day working in the arena of spooks, spies, and espionage. He spent 20 years in the Intelligence Community, six of them in Seoul, South Korea, Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, Germany in Human Intelligence, i.e., intelligence gathered by means of interpersonal contact, as opposed to the more technical intelligence gathering disciplines. In the Air Force, J.J. spent his first 2 1/2 years in the U-2 Spyplane program where he met the most famous U-2 pilot, Francis Gary Powers, who was shot down over Russia on May 1, 1960. For two years he planned B-52 bomber missions originating in the United States and Thailand. J.J. worked in two Indications and Warnings Centers in Europe and South Korea, respectively and in 1980, he was assigned to a Tactical Training Group at Nellis AFB, Nevada, where he briefed Middle East threat to combat aircrew members participating in Red Flag, a program similar to the Navy's Top Gun program. While at Nellis Air Force Base, he also taught Soviet Missile Development at the Tactical Air Command's Officer Advanced Intelligence Course and sat on national-level committees examining Soviet Missile capabilities. When he retired from active duty, he held a Bachelor's degree in Politics and Urban Regional Planning and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Arts. He also was an Adjunct Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Dr. Wm Francis Herlehy III is a Professor Emeritus in the business Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Although retired from teaching full time, he teaches a class for Graduate Students preparing them for their final Graduate Research Project. Dr. Herlehy earned his PhD in Labor Relations from Kent State University.

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