Lincoln's Dreams by Connie Willis
"Lincoln's Dreams" is a narrative that explores the intertwining of historical events and personal experiences through the lens of dreams. The plot centers on Jeff, a researcher for a Civil War novelist, who encounters a woman named Annie at a publication party. Annie has been experiencing vivid dreams related to the Civil War, particularly involving Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general. As Jeff assists Annie in understanding her dreams, they travel to significant historical sites, including Arlington House and Fredericksburg, where Annie's dreams begin to reveal deeper connections to events and figures from that era.
The story reflects on themes of memory, loss, and the impact of the past on the present, as Annie grapples with the meaning of her dreams and her link to Lee’s legacy. Complications arise when it is revealed that Annie's sleep has been tampered with, leading to a struggle for her autonomy and understanding of her experiences. The narrative ultimately delves into the emotional aftermath of their journey, highlighting Jeff's profound sense of loss and the haunting connections between history, dreams, and personal identity. Through this tapestry of historical reflection and personal narrative, "Lincoln's Dreams" invites readers to consider the enduring effects of history on individual lives.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Lincoln's Dreams
First published: 1987
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—time travel
Time of work: The present
Locale: Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The Plot
Jeff Johnson, a historical researcher for a Civil War novelist named Broun, meets a mysterious woman named Annie at a publication party for his author’s latest novel. Annie is in the company of a sleep disorder specialist, Dr. Richard Madison, who was Jeff’s college roommate. Broun wants to consult Madison about the meaning of the dreams Abraham Lincoln had before his assassination.
Jeff discovers that Annie has been dreaming of events during the Civil War. He agrees to take Annie to Arlington House, formerly a home of Robert E. Lee and now the site of Arlington National Cemetery. Annie recognizes the house as part of her dreams. She leaves Madison, who she discovers has been drugging her without her knowledge to prevent her dreams. She asks Jeff to help her discover the meaning of her dreams. Jeff agrees, and while Broun is on the West Coast doing further research on Lincoln’s dreams, Jeff and Annie travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, site of one of the worst battles of the Civil War. They conduct research and proofread Broun’s latest novel.
In Fredericksburg, Jeff discovers that Annie’s dreams match events and people in the life of Robert E. Lee, leader of the Confederate forces in the Civil War. Jeff also seems to be taking on the characteristics of Traveller, Lee’s devoted horse throughout the Civil War period. As Annie’s dreams grow worse, they try to decipher the meaning of the dreams and decide if they apply to the past or to the present. Broun’s novel, about an ordinary soldier’s experiences, becomes an important part of the story line, adding detail about the war to the atmosphere created by Annie’s increasingly vivid dreams.
At first, Annie seems to be moving through the war in chronological order, and there is hope that there will be an end to the dreams. This hope is shattered, however, when the dreams begin to move back in time as well. Annie begins to believe that she is dreaming the dreams to allow the spirit of Robert E. Lee to find peace at last. Jeff goes short on sleep as a result of Annie’s sleepwalking and because of the increasingly frantic messages from Madison on his answering machine, warning of a dangerous heart condition Annie might have. He decides that Lee is reaching out from the grave to save Annie because he was unable to save his own daughter Annie, who died during the war.
Jeff returns to Washington with Annie and tries to persuade her to meet with Madison and seek treatment for her heart condition. She refuses the treatment, afraid that it might affect her ability to dream for Lee. Jeff gives Annie all of his money and drives her to the subway station. He never sees her again. His life, mirroring that of Traveller after the death of Lee, is greatly diminished by Annie’s loss and his lack of knowledge about her fate.
Sources for Further Study
Booklist. LXXXIII, March 15, 1987, p. 1098.
Kirkus Reviews. LV, April 1, 1987, p. 519.
Library Journal. CXII, April 15, 1987, p. 102.
The New York Times Book Review. XCII, June 7, 1987, p. 18.
Publishers Weekly. CCXXXI, April 3, 1987, p. 67.
Science Fiction Chronicle. VIII, March, 1987, p. 43.
The Washington Post Book World. XVII, May 24, 1987, p. 6.
West Coast Review of Books. XIII, May, 1987, p. 26.