Mud Men
A Novel of America at War
A soldier navigates racism in the US military in the revealing historical novel Mud Men.
During World War II, an immigrant soldier in the US Army gets a lesson in leadership and racism in J. A. Nunn’s historical novel Mud Men.
In the early days of the US’s entrance into World War II, Gower faces jail time for fighting on a bus. An unorthodox offer promises a way out. Citing the dearth of Black noncommissioned officers leading Black units, the Army offers Gower and his “buddy-in-arms” Conroy promotions to the rank of corporal if they agree to train an all-Black squad in Arkansas.
British-born Gower takes the offer and makes quality inroads with the men in his command, culminating in their exclusive opportunity to show off their medical response skills in a large training exercise. Indeed, when a tragedy occurs and Gower’s men jump into sublime response mode, the response from white officers is less than approving, and Gower realizes that much is at stake if the Black soldiers prove they are just as good as white ones.
Gower’s internal thoughts, represented in italics throughout, are used to reveal his disorientation as a newcomer to the US:
Moose Muscalino says I could pass for Italian. So why don’t my paisano looks qualify me for relocation? But, hey, I’m just a lowly dogface. And as Conroy would put it, “Whadda I know?“
Still, he is eager to serve his adoptive nation. He observes American norms and practices with curiosity. On his first day of training his squad, a taciturn trooper asks “Why do white people hate black people so much?” It’s a question Gower grapples with for the rest of the novel, even as he builds up his men’s confidence. Indeed, Gower’s internal monologue adds context to each situation, as the young corporal either skewers the rampant racists around him or reflects on his own actions and their impact.
This sequel includes frequent callbacks to previous events and characters, including a carryover romance that advances the theme of Gower’s evolution from a yearning soldier to a more discerning soul. The book also functions well as a standalone; its plot is straightforward, and its characterizations are deft. Its prose alternates between humor and seriousness well. The soldiers’ voices are written with an eye toward phonetic accuracy that is sometimes distracting, though.
With a touching conclusion that ably sets up the next series entry, Mud Men is a moving historical novel that follows an immigrant soldier as he learns to cope with racism in the military.
Reviewed by
Peggy Kurkowski
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
