“Wrathful Empathies: The Second Raid on Harpers Ferry” is a novel written by Mark Ewing that blends historical events with mystery and adventure. The story revolves around a young college student who takes on a summer internship at the Great Trail Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The protagonist’s task is to digitize over 40 years’ worth of hiker shelter journals from the 2,100-mile trail, which have been stored in a spider-infested basement. As he delves into these neglected records, he uncovers a series of mysterious communications that reveal the existence of an underground group known as “The Kindred”. Central to the plot is a enigmatic figure with the trail name “Lost Mungo.” This character’s entries in the shelter journals span four decades without missing a single day, defying the normal constraints of time and space. Lost Mungo appears to be tracing the survivors of John Brown’s first raid on Harpers Ferry across generations. Intrigued by these discoveries, the student decides to hike the mountainous trails himself to uncover the truth behind Lost Mungo and The Kindred. This journey promises to be life-changing for the protagonist.
The novel explores themes of loyalty, examining both its positive and negative aspects. It’s structured as a multi-generational narrative, spanning 40 years and interweaving historical events with fictional elements.