Introduction

In the fragile balance of life, you have one birth, one death, one time to tell those you love a final farewell. But what if, somehow, you were given one more chance?

Victor Gant's life is abundant with blessings. Although his mother was an Osage Indian slave, he is a valuable member of the French and German community of charming of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. As the town blacksmith he is respected, well-liked, and makes a proper living for himself and beloved sister. All Victor's dreams come true when he marries the only woman that had ever caught his eye.

But blessings can be fleeting. When the civil war erupts in 1861 Victor will have to make choices. Torn between what's best for his family or following his conscience, between keeping promises or following his heart... to finally bestowing an agonizing blessing of his own.

Barbara Sontheimer's sweeping novel Victor's Blessing is a journey from the patent office of Washington DC, to the infamous Andersonville prison, to the Battle of Wilderness, where in order for Victor to keep one promise.... another must be broken.

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Excerpt

Prologue
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, April 1839
AnnaMargarite Gant knew she was dying and wondered if everyone felt the same odd certainty before they died. Impending death was so obvious, she wondered why her little girl Margaret or son Victor did not realize it. She wondered why her daughter uselessly sponged her fevered brow and forced water against her dried lips, begging her to drink. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

1.) Does the fact that Victor never tells Celena he loves her make you feel differently about him? And why doesn’t he?
2.) Celena’s character is shy, were you able to connect with the character even though she is not the typical self-important heroine?
3.) Ethan’s character has flaws. Did you feel that he was able to redeem himself enough during the novel to justify Celena agreeing to marry him? And why?
4.) Penelope is unhappy for most of the story. Do you think it had more to do with her own upbringing, and all the things she finds out Ethan has done, or the fact that her husband is in love with Celena? Do you think in time she would have found happiness?
5.) Slavery was rightly abolished. Do you feel the novel adequately represented different opinions of the country ?
6.) Although the novel touches on the well-known battles and happenings of the Civil War, the author tried to bring to life more obscure stories. Before reading the novel were you aware of Elmer Ellsworth, or the battle of Wilderness? Was it engaging to learn of some of the more unknown facets of the civil war?
7.) Forgiveness was a theme throughout the novel. If you were Victor would you have been able to forgive Ethan? If you were Penelope could you also have forgiven Ethan? What about Victor sacrificing his own life to save his nephew? Or was Victor past forgiveness?
8.) The ghost of Victor’s mother visits him on the battlefield. How did you feel about him going with her, as opposed to the other two times she asked him to?
9.) There was some humor in the novel, was it appropriate and appreciated or did it detract from the story?

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