Hope Shall Brighten Days To Come

Description

1917 Minnesota. The Great War has been raging in Europe for three years, but life in America remains unaffected as Melania Harvey eagerly anticipates her future as a rural schoolteacher. She will let nothing, not even the handsome James Wirth, stand in her way. Her parents and older siblings immigrated from Germany prompting her father, Jacob, to carefully watch Germany's escalated aggression toward their new homeland. Jacob believes that U.S. involvement in the Great War is imminent, despite President Wilson's reelection promise to keep America out of the conflict.The United States ultimately declares war on Germany after an implicit threat against our country is intercepted in the spring of 1917, sending the entire nation into turmoil. Jacob and his wife, Helene, move with their youngest daughter, Melania, to Minneapolis. There, the older couple begin work at a flour mill while Melania begins studies at the University's new Rural Education Program. While Jacob and Helene anticipate the sacrifices that come with war, it is the unexpected nativist propaganda from the American government that is the most unforeseen. Many citizens with German surnames are targeted and harassed, although being loyal American citizens. Despite Melania's efforts to discourage her suitor, Jim Worth takes every opportunity to charm his way into her life. She remains firm in her resolve to focus on her studies and spends her free time as a Red Cross volunteer. Melania is confident that her carefully laid plans are solid, but when Jim is unfairly harassed and later goes missing, her attention is diverted, and her heart tested. As the country toils through support and sacrifice for the war effort, an unexpected and equally vicious threat emerges, propagated by the soldiers themselves. Can the family and the country face another trial? As Melania's focus is drawn away even further from her education plans, will she be able to rise to the challenges that are far beyond her experience, training and desires? (Source: Google Books API)