Waring's Peril

In the gilded aftermath of the Civil War, Lieutenant Sam Waring rides into trouble with the same careless grace he rides through life. A light artillery officer of notorious charm and alarming recklessness, Waring has mastered the art of bending authority to his will, whether skipping military reviews for town galas or charming his way through a garrison hierarchy that views him with equal parts admiration and envy. When an accident with his horse sets off a chain of consequences both personal and professional, Waring discovers that his carefree exploits have finally caught up with him. The novel captures a nation at the threshold of a new era, where old military codes meet new social ambitions, and a young officer must choose between the easy charm that has defined him and the harder path of genuine responsibility. King's portrait of garrison life pulses with period texture and the particular anxieties of men tasked with wearing a uniform in peacetime America.