| dc.description.abstract | Set in a late-1930's mining town in West Virginia and in the broader theater of World War II, Sulphur and Lilacs is about Calvin Fisher, a young Marine whose experiences teach him about honor, duty, family, and love. As a young man, Calvin's dreams and goals are at odds with the reality of his family and town-versus-mine politics. Life in Rocky Creek holds little interest for an intelligent man with a passionate interest in history and world events. His pacifist father, a drafted World War I veteran and grocer, refuses to accept Calvin's desire to join the Marines. When Calvin's secret relationship with Valerie (daughter of his father's political rival, Coal Mine Superintendent Bernard Kline) ends up in false rape charges, Calvin resorts to a plea bargain to avoid having his and Valerie's private lives taken apart in court. While the bargain results in Calvin joining the Marines, he does not think of possible costs until after the deal is done. He has left his own honor dubious, and possibly hurt the town if his actions reflect on his father. After training, Calvin's first post is the American Embassy in Paris. Early in his assignment he meets Alice Williams, an American army nurse. Alice is a talented musician, independent minded, and has somehow survived a cheating husband and a divorce with her military career intact. It is a brief, memorable meeting. Calvin witnesses the surrender of Paris. Angered by his inability to get involved, Calvin must watch the people he has come to know suffer in their own city. When the Embassy evacuates, Calvin is transferred stateside, where he is frustrated by the lack of American involvement in the war until the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. During the war, Calvin faces many challenges. Alice comes back into his life. While their pasts and conflicting views make it clear that a relationship would be challenging, there is definitely attraction. Calvin's obedience is tested when his commanding officer dies and is replaced by a hard-nosed traditionalist with whom Calvin conflicts in personality and world view. Calvin survives dysentery and the Battle of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal, and the slaughter on Tarawa. On Iwo Jima, Calvin is gravely wounded as he takes out a Japanese machine gun nest after rescuing several men. While recovering, Calvin returns to West Virginia because his mother is dangerously ill. To pay for her medical care, Calvin convinces Kline to offer his father what the grocery store is worth in exchange for his parents leaving town. In dealing with his mother's illness, Calvin discovers that time has given him perspective. Calvin and his father reach a begrudging understanding of each other as they discuss Calvin's tactical choice in leaving Kline without competition. Calvin realizes the depth of his feelings for Alice, when seeing Valerie again is surprisingly painless. Back at Quantico, Calvin and Alice make their relationship official, aware of the difficulties still ahead. Calvin prepares to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroics on Iwo Jima. | |
