King Spruce, A Novel

"King Spruce" by Holman Day is a story set in the early 1900s about the tough world of the timber industry, following Dwight Wade as he tries to find his path in a place controlled by powerful lumber bosses. Wade ends up facing off against John Barrett, the big boss known as "King Spruce," and a politician named Honorable Pulaski D. Britt, highlighting clashes between different social classes and the challenges of staying true to yourself when love gets mixed up in your goals. When we first meet Wade, he's on his way to the center of the Umcolcus Lumbering and Log-driving Association, feeling like an outsider among the rough crowd waiting to meet Barrett, who holds the keys to success in logging. As Wade learns about the struggles of those trying to make deals in the lumber business, he soon clashes with Barrett over his ideas about sustainable forestry, and his growing feelings for Barrett's daughter, Elva, create even more challenges, setting the stage for a story full of personal battles and social issues.