The playwright Eugene O’Neill once said, “The past is the present, isn’t it? It’s the future, too.”
Upper Keys resident Michael Kenneth Smith, author, historiographer and storyteller, took that to heart when writing his latest World War II historical novel, “All Is Fair,” which was published this month. Smith considered the moral dilemmas of warfare and the fight against anti-Semitism and authoritarianism, past and present, as he was writing the book.
But Smith’s skill as a writer is best demonstrated when he weaves his command of military history and the complexities of human nature and intimate relationships to create a gripping novel of adventure, mystery and romance.
When asked about striking a balance between maintaining historical accuracy with developing an interesting fictional narrative, he said, “My historical fiction always marches to the drumbeat of the historical period taking place at the time. My fictional characters are woven into that beat in such a way as to not change the true happenings at the time but to allow the reader a better understanding of what might have happened. In this way, I hope my writing can entertain the reader and also inform the reader so that he/she comes away with a better understanding of the historical aspects of the period.”
In “All Is Fair,” Smith introduces readers to the little-publicized heroism of Poland’s fighter pilots who bravely fought against Germany and the Axis forces.
The hero of the novel, Jan Orlinski, is a gifted pianist and Royal Air Force airman, who becomes a fighter pilot with Poland’s famed 303. The plot follows Jan through harrowing missions and narrow escapes from death. Through it all, he clings to his love for Sophie — who later tells him she works for a London newspaper — and often finds ingenious ways to see her.
He survives being captured and interrogated by the Nazis. As an escaped POW, he finds refuge at a farm in Belgium, where he is connected with an escort on a daring trek to freedom across the Pyrenees. But finally, Jan’s luck runs out. He is captured again and sent to Spain’s notorious concentration camp, Mirando de Ebro. While counting off the days — 421 — in captivity, he imagines playing piano and dreams of being with Sophie again. Jan’s story culminates in France in late July 1944, with the discovery of a devastating betrayal, a tense reunion and an unexpected gift.
Smith’s previous novels include ”The Postwoman,” “Scarred: A Civil War Novel of Redemption” and most recently, ”In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of Lost Confederate Treasure.” All his novels, including the newly released “All Is Fair,” can be found on Amazon or at select booksellers.
