An American

In Short

Set in 1898 during the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, An American follows a group of intertwined figures in Cuba whose lives are upended by political violence. Centered around Ruth Wakefield, a compassionate American woman living on a Cuban estate, and Father Felix, an unshakeable local priest, the narrative traces their efforts to provide sanctuary, spiritual guidance, and medical aid amidst conflict. As secret origins emerge and criminal intrigue threatens the community, the novel explores the endurance of faith, national identity, and the moral duty to protect the oppressed.

The Story

The story opens on the eve of the Spanish-American War, as tensions between Spain and the United States reach a breaking point. In Cuba, native uprisings against Spanish rule lead to the liberation of political prisoners from a grim fortress. Among those freed are the deceptive agitator Manuello and a crowd of weakened captives who disperse into the countryside. Watching these events unfold are Father Felix, a devout and physically robust priest dedicated to his flock, and Estrella, a tender young Cuban woman mourning the loss of her leader and betrothed, Victorio Colenzo.

Seeking to protect Estrella from Manuello's aggressive advances, Father Felix arranges for her to take refuge at the hill estate of Ruth Wakefield. Ruth, a deeply spiritual and self-reliant American woman, lives a quiet life managed alongside her garrulous but fiercely loyal servant, old Mage. Ruth takes Estrella in as a companion, but their peaceful existence is interrupted by news of the destruction of the battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, propelling the United States into open war with Spain.

Father Felix foresees the coming devastation and mobilizes his community. He enlists as a U.S. Army chaplain to support soldiers on the front lines, while Ruth converts her grand residence into a field hospital for the wounded. Estrella serves as a volunteer nurse, overcoming her past traumas to care for incoming casualties. Drama unfolds within the hospital walls when Ruth notices a striking resemblance between Estrella and a high-born refugee nurse who fled the naval battle of Santiago. Through a golden cross worn around Estrella's neck, the two are revealed to be long-lost sisters, reuniting Estrella with her true bloodline and restoring her lost lineage.

Meanwhile, Manuello’s dark deeds catch up with him. After attacking a U.S. soldier and attempting to silence the peasant girl Tessa—whom he had seduced and abandoned—Manuello engages in a violent struggle with Father Felix inside a ruined hut. The priest subdues the criminal, bringing him to sudden penitence.

As the war draws to a close, Ruth’s estate suffers severe damage, forcing her to relocate into the village of San Domingo with old Mage and her beloved pet cat, Tid-i-wats. Though stripped of her comfortable home and faced with an uncertain future, Ruth finds solace in her unyielding faith in God and her deep pride in American ideals of freedom and justice.

How It Unfolds

The prison doors open Father Felix greets the weak and starved political captives as they are liberated from a dark prison cell. Among the crowd, the sinister Manuello searches for Estrella, who shrinks away from his unsettling presence.

A shelter on the hill Recognizing Estrella's vulnerability following her suitor's death, Father Felix guides her to the estate of Ruth Wakefield. Ruth welcomes the young woman into her home, where old Mage manages the household duties.

War comes to Cuba The explosion of the U.S. battleship in Havana Harbor triggers open war between America and Spain. Father Felix decides to serve as a U.S. Army chaplain, while Ruth transforms her mansion into a temporary hospital.

Shadows in the hospital Estrella steps up to work as a hospital nurse, only to find herself treating a wounded Manuello. Nearby, Ruth notices a resemblance between Estrella and a wealthy refugee nurse, leading to the discovery of Estrella's sister through a golden cross trinket.

A clash in the ruins Father Felix confronts Manuello in a tumble-down hut after the rogue attempts to harm Tessa. The two men physically wrestle until Manuello suffers a sudden collapse of nerve, breaking down into tearful repentance for his crimes.

Aftermath and restoration With her estate ruined by the conflict, Ruth retreats to the village refectory with old Mage and her cat Tid-i-wats. Though her former life has been disrupted, she faces the future with serene trust in Divine Providence.

The People

• Ruth Wakefield seeks to live a quiet life defined by spiritual devotion and practical charity. When war breaks out, she converts her home into a hospital and personally searches battlefields for survivors, ultimately losing her estate but retaining her absolute faith.
• Father Felix desires to shepherd his people through both physical danger and moral temptation. Acting as a priest, counselor, and physical defender, he joins the army as a chaplain and overpowers violent criminals without losing his patient love for humanity.
• Estrella wants peace and safety after losing her original betrothed. Living as an isolated peasant girl, she undergoes trials as a wartime nurse before discovering her noble heritage and reuniting with her biological sister.
• Manuello seeks personal power and romantic conquest through intimidation and deceit. Driven by jealousy and self-preservation, his violent schemes fail, leaving him a terrified penitent groveling at the feet of Father Felix.
• Old Mage wants nothing more than to guard Ruth and keep the household running smoothly. Though garrulous and prone to complaining, her fierce loyalty keeps her at Ruth's side through every trial.

In Its Own Voice

"There are many characteristics that are essential to true Americanism; among these, none is more prominent than an inborn desire, not only to obtain personal liberty, but, also, to see justice done to others."

The author sets the moral tone of the narrative in the opening introduction.

"Twice, Manuello's fingers almost closed about the good Priest's throat, and twice did Father Felix lift the other man bodily from the floor and dash him down in a huddled heap in one corner of the room..."

Father Felix engages in a desperate physical struggle to protect an innocent witness from a violent criminal.

"'Little Dadditts! Little Tid-i-wats! Be a nice lady, now ... be a very nice little lady, now.'"

Ruth gently comforts her pet cat while facing the tragic destruction of her beloved home.

What It's Really About

An American is fundamentally a meditation on moral duty and national character during times of political crisis. Belle Willey Gue uses the backdrop of the Spanish-American War to argue that true "Americanism" is defined not by geographic borders, but by a selfless commitment to defending the weak and upholding justice.

Underneath the melo-dramatic plot of long-lost siblings and villainous rogues lies a serious reflection on spiritual self-reliance. Ruth Wakefield and Father Felix embody an ideal of quiet fortitude, demonstrating that external loss—whether of property, status, or physical security—cannot crush a soul anchored in conscience and faith. The novel framed the 1898 conflict as a noble crusade where personal integrity and divine providence ultimately triumph over tyranny and deceit.

Why Read It Today

An American offers modern readers an intriguing glimpse into early twentieth-century popular fiction, reflecting the patriotic fervor and religious idealism that surrounded the Spanish-American War. Readers interested in historical melodramas, period literature, or religious fiction will appreciate its earnest moral clarity and vivid dramatic set pieces—from dramatic prison releases to intense hand-to-hand struggles in rural huts.

The reading experience is marked by the distinct stylistic conventions of its era. The narrative relies heavily on formal, highly structured prose, explicit moralizing, and sudden coincidental plot developments, such as long-lost relatives recognizing each other by golden trinkets. At times, the tone leans toward sentimental sermonizing, and the depiction of Cuban peasants reflects period assumptions regarding class and culture.

However, the book retains a genuine warmth. The unexpected domestic touches—such as Ruth chatting with her stubborn cat amidst the ruin of her life—lend a human charm to the tale. It remains a fascinating artifact of early 1900s American idealism.