In Julia and Maud, author Joyce Faulkner presents a compelling
tale told by Archie Biggs, the "steadfast," yet conflicted Huck Finntype
narrator. Biggs, often at the center of the action, whether he
wants to be or not, reveals his own bias, while also showing the
perspectives of complicated citizens during an evolutionary 1890s
Fort Smith. The ebb and flow of popular opinion and the sixdegrees
of separation which connect characters throughout
parallels many political stories and the ambitions throughout
Arkansas history to the present. Readers are empathetic to the
narrator, whose dialectal perspective, youth, and honor, are clear
throughout. Some readers may find empathy for Maud, as
reminded by Faulkner, this story has many sides.
