A Crowd of Enemies

A CROWD OF ENEMIESHayden, a celebrated man, commits a brazen act of civil disobedience. He smashes a dangerous device and reveals a shadowy government program. A secret trial is convened to judge Hayden but he disappears, apparently skipping bail like a common criminal. His prim son, Robert, already ashamed of his father's actions, now rejects him completely. Five years pass with no word about Hayden's fate. Then, notice of his father's death arrives and Robert dutifully travels to a remote corner of New England. At Ugala, the place of his father's exile, he discovers letters in his father's schoolmaster's hand. Guided by these eloquent letters, many intended for his mother, Robert embarks on a quest to find out what happened to his father. Robert meets with ten of the jurors from the secret trial. Each has their own view of the case, the guilt or innocence of his father, and the reason why his father disappeared. As he proceeds, he learns that all was not orthodox in the government's handling of the jury and the case. He becomes ashamed that, in all these years, he has made little effort to learn what happened.He returns to Ugala and discovers the truth about the cover-up, and those in power that were behind it all.Readers' comments about A Crowd of Enemies:"a finely wrought cautionary tale; the father's letters home are beautifully written"" the tone is fascinating and consistent throughout; it combines elegy and something like a kite string let out slowly by the runner""a sense of dread permeates this parable about the abuse of political power; just right for our time" "Elegant prose and believeable dialogue combine with a tight story line...a very satisfying read."