"Pilot Mountain" is a work of fiction based on the life of Louis H. Wall as seen through the eyes of his great-grandson, Dr. Robert R. Wall. This work takes us from Louis's induction into the Army of Northern Virginia. It follows Louis through his exploits during several of the most horrific battles of that war. Finally, to his return home from that war, family strife and to the ultimate decision that would change his life forever. It is a story of family life in the old south and the war that changed the south forever. However it does not dwell on that horrific war. It instead tells stories of friends and the men and woman whose lives were changed by that terrible war. Dr. Wall has studied the genealogy of his Great-Grandfather and the history of his Great-Grandfather's regiment during the Civil War. From this he has extrapolated this work of fiction from his own mind as it could have taken place. This is a work of fiction and has no basis in fact, other than the regimental history and the areas in which his Great-Grandfather lived and fought for survival. No knowledge of what actually took place between family members is known or implied.

ロバート・ウォールが曽祖父の足跡を辿り、断片的な史実の骨組みにフィクションの血肉を与えた本作は、単なる歴史小説の枠を超えた「魂の対話」です。南北戦争という凄惨な嵐の中で、一人の男が何を見つめ、いかにして家族のもとへ帰還したのか。著者は系譜学的な裏付けを基に、公的な記録には決して残らない「個人の心の震え」を叙情豊かに描き出しています。 凄まじい戦場の描写に留まらず、戦後の南部を生きる人々の葛藤や、運命を左右する重大な決断に焦点を当てた点が本作の白眉です。歴史の濁流に翻弄されながらも、愛する者たちのために命を繋いだ個人の尊厳。その息遣いを現代に蘇らせる力強い筆致は、読む者の魂を激しく揺さぶり、自らのルーツを愛おしむ情熱を呼び覚ましてくれるでしょう。