Title: The Johnson Place: A Rappahannock County Story
Author: J. Stewart Willis
Publisher: Author’s Tranquility Press
ISBN: 978-1-958179-97-0
Pages: 425
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Candace L. Barr
Hollywood Book Reviews
The Johnson Place gives us a rundown of the (mostly true) history of a sprawling property in the Virginia countryside that eventually became a ski resort. The main event is Part I, which takes up more than ¾ of the book. It tells of a particular Johnson James, one of nine children and the eldest son of the family. At 19, he goes off to make his own way in the world, and winds up working on a farm elsewhere in Virginia. He learns of his father’s death from a notice in a newspaper, then inquires after his inheritance which he learns to be only a partial share of the farm.
This kicks off a scheme that really unravels James’ character. He formulates a plan to get what he thinks he deserves. First, he needs a wife from a wealthy family, and seeks Allice Dulin, a woman a year older than him, who has no prospects. Over the course of several visits, he meets various members of the family, including the Shreves, Allice’s nieces and nephews. After Allice gets pregnant, her mother agrees to the marriage, including a dowry large enough to buy the other shares of the Johnson farm. Despite getting what he wants, James still isn’t satisfied six years on, and he pays a visit to the Shreves, which leads to the sordid events that culminate in the trial of James Johnson.
In part one, we also get to see the women in James’ life, his sisters, his wife, his daughters, and his slaves, and the various roles they take on. Allice, though unhappy in her marriage, is a dutiful, hardworking wife and mother. Life on the Johnson farm is a downgrade from her upbringing, but she’s determined to see it through, even though James doesn’t bother to hide his shameful deeds. In fact, everyone in the area starts gossiping about the strange goings-on at the Johnson place, men and women alike. After James’ long absence, the newcomer Allice develops a reputation as a respectable, if homely woman, while her Rappahannock-native husband becomes a source of disdain, and maybe a little envy.
The other two parts of the book tell of what happened to the Johnson place after James’ death and seem to be written more for people with a special interest in local history than for fans of historical fiction. There’s less story development, with more emphasis on findings from historical documents and transfer of property. While Part I could stand on its own, Parts II and III can’t do the same.
That said, the book is overall interesting and informative, and it’s clear the author is dedicated to the story and enjoyed the process. However, as he warns in the preface, he doesn’t stick to all the “rules” of historical fiction, and the dialogue is anachronistic at times, which sticklers may find off-putting. I would love to see Part I as a stand-alone work with some editing to make the language more accurate.