Beverly Pace

Song of Alabama Beverly Pace

Anna Newsom had led a quiet life until World War II German POWs were brought to her small Alabama town to a work camp to spend the duration of the war. With no money for college, Anna needs a job and she is picked to take books to the prisoners. With her own brother off at war, and fighting her family's disapproval, Anna struggles with feelings of disloyalty but finds herself relishing her visits to the prison camp as she takes on the role of teacher, sharing her love of history and literature, and even her faith with the prisoners. As the war drags on, Anna takes comfort in the fact that she, like her brother, is making a difference in the war effort. She slowly begins to see the prisoners as young men who are also tired of war and want to start a new life. Anna becomes close to one prisoner in particular, a man named Klaus, who is a leader to the men but he has lost his way spiritually. Due to circumstances from his youth, Klaus no longer believes in God, and although he is drawn to Anna, he cannot share her faith. Anna begins to question her judgment, her feelings, and her faith as she falls in love with Klaus. Knowing that no one close to her would accept a relationship with the enemy, Anna finds herself isolated and afraid of what the future will bring.