A coming-of-age novel capturing the tensions of a nation on the
brink of civil war
and the resilience of one
teenaged boy
ON SALE NOW
About This Leavened Land
This Leavened Land is set in eastern Tennessee during the American Civil War and tells the story of a young plainspoken farm boy as he experiences love, loss, and betrayal as the Civil War tragically turns long-time friends and neighbors into bitter enemies and he hunts down the one man who has taken nearly everything away from him.
About Thomas
Inspired by a passion for history, Thomas Mauser explores how individuals caught up in the whirlwind of the American Civil War that has divided friends and neighbors into bitter enemies overcome their fears and difficult circumstances with courage, faith, and perseverance.
Praise for This Leavened Land
It’s that powerful.
—Midwest Book Review
"...observations and assessments will resonate with modern readers interested in situations where social and political conflicts arise... Mauser employs realistic scenarios and local dialogue to cement the experiences of his characters, which brings the story to life..."
Quick-Paced
Intense
—San Francisco Book Review
"…quick-paced and intense, a story about revenge, loyalty, and a boy's growing into a man. Through James Meecham's eyes, we see not only the moral struggle of opposing slavery while living in the Southern state of Tennessee but also the moral struggle of being unwilling to fight to end it. This book is a fresh look at the Civil War…"
Movie-Worthy Dynamic
—Amazon Review, 5 out of 5 stars
"...Thomas Mauser explores [a] movie-worthy dynamic in vivid detail and with heart and soul. Our young hero James Meecham guts his way through the war, loving, losing, suffering, surviving… Readers will find James and other characters endearing, and the story absorbing and poignant throughout."
Latest Blog Post
Among those Union Army generals who served and fought during the American Civil War, the name of Grenville Mellen Dodge is not well-known. In comparison to the wartime achievements of, among others, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Philip Sheridan, General Grenville Dodge’s accomplishments were of a more modest nature. Nevertheless, he made his…
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