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King Spruce: A Novel is centered around the timber industry, exploring the power dynamics within a community controlled by lumber barons. The story follows a young man as he navigates ambition and love in an environment dominated by figures of authority. The novel contrasts the desires of the protagonist with the oppressive control of influential figures, examining the tension between personal integrity and the ambitions of those in power. The narrative delves into the struggles of the working class, the pursuit of sustainable practices, and the emotional complexities of relationships shaped by ambition and social expectations. The protagonist's interaction with the established order challenges the norms of the industry, while his romantic involvement further complicates the situation, blending personal and societal conflicts. The novel sheds light on the harsh realities of the lumber trade and the emotional undercurrents that drive individuals to confront power, tradition, and love. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the clash of ideals and desires will lead to both personal growth and conflict within the broader context of class struggle and human ambition.
About the author
Holman Francis Day, an American author, was born in Vassalboro, Maine. The Holman Day House, his residence in Auburn, Maine, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Rider of the King Log, based on his book, was filmed in 1921. Along Came Ruth, based on his play, was filmed in 1924. Day married Helen Gerald, the only daughter of Amos F. Gerald, a railroad engineer, and Caroline W. Rowell. She died in 1902 at the age of 32 and was buried at Maplewood Cemetery in her father's birthplace of Fairfield, Maine; Day, on the other hand, was buried in Nichols Cemetery in his hometown of Vassalboro, Maine, after dying in 1935. He graduated from Colby College (class of 1887) and worked as the Union Publishing Company's managing editor in Bangor, Maine, from 1889 to 1890. He was also the editor and owner of the Dexter Gazette in Maine, a special writer for the Journal in Lewiston, a Boston Herald representative, and the managing editor of the Lewiston Daily Sun. From 1901 until 1904, he served as the military secretary to Maine Governor John F Hill. He moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, in the 1920s.
