The Deserter, and Other Stories: A Book of Two Wars

A stark winter landscape frames the opening tale, where frost‑bitten mornings on a remote New England farm set the stage for a young man’s quiet struggle against the elements. As Job Parshall battles frozen pumps and icy water to keep the barn’s cows productive, the narrative captures the gritty resilience of ordinary lives pressed by nature’s harshness. The detailed, sensory prose immerses listeners in the hum of labor, the warmth of camaraderie among the hired hands, and the subtle tension that simmers beneath routine chores.

Beyond this solitary farm, the collection weaves together vivid sketches of two great wars, each story revealing personal courage, moral dilemmas, and the lingering echo of conflict in everyday moments. Whether following a deserter’s conflicted conscience or tracing the lives of those left behind, the tales blend historical texture with timeless human concerns, inviting listeners to feel the chill of winter and the heat of resolve in equal measure.