Indomitable: A Work of Historical Fiction Based on True Events

by J.D. Edwards

When Black voices are stifled, the reality is transformed into fiction, history is twisted into folklore, and heroes are turned into myths. Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, holding a brief account of Eliza Harris, in 1853. Now, 170 years later, learn the actual tale of Eliza's harrowing escape from slavery and her unwavering bravery to live a life of freedom. Eliza risked everything to cross the semi-frozen Ohio River in the dead of night and save her baby from a slave's life.

Indomitable is a work of historical fiction based on real events and Eliza's firsthand narrative. While one branch of the author's family owned Eliza, the other branch risked their lives to rescue her. We cannot undo the past, but we can recount the tales of those who fought for liberty and assure that their sacrifice was not in vain.

Genres: Historical Fiction

276 pages, Paperback

Published January 31, 2022

About the author

J. D. Edwards is an award-winning author of Epic Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, and Theological writing. Best known for Indomitable and The Faerie Chronicles, his work blends immersive world-building with emotional and spiritual depth. His writing has earned honors from The Charl Ormond Williams Fund, Carolina Bards, Notebook Publishing, and more. With over 70 published genealogical articles to his name and a dozen historical awards, Edwards now serves as a writing contest judge for the Ohio Genealogical Society. He lives to blur the boundary between fiction and reality.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! I've been a fan of J.D. Edwards for a long time and Indomitable is his best book yet. It's a very moving and emotional book. I highly recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J.D. Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and emotional masterpiece! Indomitable gives voice to those who had none and combines the true story of Eliza Harris's escape from slavery with the historical and genealogical facts of the Underground Railroad, its stations, and conductors. This story weaves together a narrative filled with love, loss, hope, despair, forgiveness, and redemption. It's the story of life in 1838 and an accurate portrayal of this indomitable survivor's quest to live free.

Shakespeare's Macbeth once described "Life" in a derogatory manner: "Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Indomitable is the true story of the life of Eliza Harris, but it is hardly a tale told by an idiot.

Indeed, the key figures, who aided Eliza's escape to Canada, reflect more the description given by Shakespeare's Hamlet: "What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god!"

If you don't read another book this year, you must read Indomitable. I guarantee you will be emotionally moved by the story and life of Eliza Harris.

[Margaret Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening sentence to the very last word, the author totally embraces the time period from both the perspective of Eliza, the runaway slave, to the plantation owners. I could not put this book down once I started it. I highly recommend this book for everyone. It was an emotional read, but was also realistic in its setting and dialogue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a different and much more accurate lens on American history . Eliza’s journey brings to light the institutional racism so prevalent in Kentucky via its slave laws. She is “indomitable “; a woman most courageous, driven by a higher power that won’t allow the laws of 1838 to control her life. Yet, at the end she extends the greatest compassion to former owner and finds Lizzy to be a different person; begging forgiveness of Eliza . This book is definitely a must read.

[Nancy Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.D. Edwards book Indomitable kept me glued to each page to the very end. Taking the journey in this book, I felt as though I was living in the time period, learning their of the ways of life. Living near the locations mentioned, I was walking with them in their travels. Thank you Mr. Edwards for and awesome book! *****
Nancy Blair/ Ohio

[Cherrae · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very beginning to the end this book pulls no punches. It's a harrowing and often brutal account of the real-life Eliza Harris, whose story was the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. In the forward, we learn that the author is a descendent of those involved with Eliza's captivity and also her freedom run through the Underground Railroad. You can really feel the realism that can only come from sifting through mountains of research and real documents. There are even portions of dialog taken from Eliza's own written accounts. But it never loses the humanity and spirit of Eliza, showing in a real emotional human light her Indomitable spirit and will and courage to do whatever it took to save her son.

[Janell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It brings up all sorts of emotion, anger at times at how people could possible think the color of skin changes value. Pride at the tenderness, determination, love for her son and innocence at times of Eliza. George Edwards, a Godly, beautiful man who helped Eliza escape Reason Downing, an abusive slave owner. This is a beautiful story and Eliza is one of the strongest, kind human beings ever born. J.D. Edwards is a beautiful writer and did a very good job telling the story of Eliza Harris and her journey to Canada called Heavenly, to her and her son Harry’s freedom. A true story.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indomitable is a fictionalized story of a real-life enslaved woman, Eliza Harris, whose escape from Kentucky across the half-frozen Ohio River to freedom was one of the most memorable scenes in Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. In Indomitable, Eliza's abused life in slavery at the mercy of her master and mistress, is fleshed out. As Eliza's infant son (fathered by Eliza's master) is about to be sold away from her, Eliza escapes across the Ohio River, her enraged owner at her heels. So begins Eliza's grueling journey as a “package” along the “Freedom Trail” - later more commonly known as the Underground Railroad. Author Jeremy Edwards researched historical records of the enslaved, of masters trying to recover their human property, and of active abolitionists and “conductors” of the Underground Railroad, to tell of Eliza's arduous journey. That author Edwards is also a descendant of some involved in the real Eliza's enslavement, as well as those involved in aiding her way to freedom, gives an added level of reality to Eliza's journey. The story is well told, and one wants to read on to find out what happens next. While sometimes the scenes and dialog feature some characters over-explaining themselves and their history, often these same details give the reader a better understanding of how the system worked. Edwards gives Eliza the spirit and bravery that make her a participant in her own rescue – not just a “package” - as fleeing enslaved individuals were referred to in the coded language of the Freedom Trail. Indomitable is a good historical fiction read for lovers of American history in general and Ohio and Civil War history in particular.

[Michaelle Sandefur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! You get to experience Eliza Harris' epic journey to freedom and feel how she felt. It also gives how the Underground Railroad was able to get her there.

I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Frances Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The proud owner of an Advance Review Copy of this book I can recommend it very highly indeed. It's the next part of the true story of Eliza as told by Harriet Beecher Stower, researched and constructed by JD Edwards in a masterful and sensitive way. In this next chapter of her life, Eliza, the brave resourceful person we know so well, stands up for herself in a way that allows others to understand their own actions and see a way ahead. In that sense, she's a true teacher. Read it and you're transported in time and place, I could hear the voices, smell the smells and feel the feelings. It's a tragic tale, highlighting terrible wrongs, but ends in a way that warms the heart and gives us hope.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting story with a pace that really moved and kept me interested. The reader is dropped right into the action with Eliza and I was eager to find out what happened next. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more historical fiction from Mr. Edwards. His attention to detail and research effort to make this as accurate as possible are quite evident.


Constructive criticism:
I will say, I can’t remember the last book I read that used the word “chortle” (Hardy Boys, perhaps?) so seeing it used multiple times in a single book caught me off guard and made it feel repetitive. Similarly, the “low whistle” and “chair slap” were apparently the most popular forms of expressing exclamation in the 1860’s as well, as these terms appear almost predictably any time Eliza retells her journey to someone new.

Overall, quite enjoyable and exceeded all expectations. Well done!

[M Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story? Oh yeah. More loosely based on thousands of true stories? Yes.
Slavery has been a blot on the human race for thousands of years. Slavery has existed in one form or another in almost every society on earth and continues right up to this day. Think human trafficking.
This story might make you angry and shake your soul. If it does, good. This story might make you wonder at the determination of one person to change circumstances for herself and her son. That I-will-do-whatever-it-takes attitude is no less astounding than it was so long ago.
I loved this book; its story and its writing. Both are utterly fabulous! Mr. Edwards is one heck of a writer!
Be prepared to be shocked, enlightened and entertained. I certainly was. 5 stars for “Indomitable”!

[Barbara Daniels Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible

Wonderful retelling of the Eliza Harris story. Mr. Edwards obviously did precise research on his novel. I felt as if I was on the journey with Eliza and to say my heartbeat faster in those terrorizing moments when I thought she surely would be captured is an understatement. Prepare yourself for a fast paced race for a sought after freedom.

[Sayantan Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving, but too long...

This is a moving story. But sometimes it gets too long and meandering, almost risking losing the audience. Sometimes it is excessively conversation orientated in building characters and loses objectivity.