An American in Scotland

Ranney concludes her American Civil War trilogy (after Scotsman in My Dreams) with the Scottish branch of the MacIains family inserting itself into the Confederate cause in order to support Rose, who they think is the wife of their American cousin, Bruce MacIain. In actuality, Rose is Bruce’s New York–raised, abolition-minded sister-in-law. She dodges the Charleston blockade and travels to Glasgow in order to offer mill owner Duncan MacIain the opportunity to purchase 1,000 bales of South Carolina cotton with gold. Despite having been abused for helping several slaves escape, Rose is determined to go back in order to rescue her sister, her niece, and the remaining slaves from starvation. Duncan is reluctant to allow Rose to place herself in danger, but he recognizes that her determination will not allow her to stay in Scotland or even in Nassau, where their relationship deepens as the danger increases. Ranney sensitively writes about a sad and ugly period of American history, and her thoughtful, multidimensional depiction of the enslaved characters avoids stereotypes and whitewashing the past. (Feb.)