Review of L.C. Lewis' Oh, Say Can You See

Oh, Say Can You See?, by L.C. Lewis, is the fourth volume in the Free Men and Dreamers series. Oh, Say Can You See? chronicles, through historic fiction, the events leading to and following from the writing of our national anthem. It begins just after the burning of Washington and concludes with the signing of the treaty to end the war.


I knew the gist of the story behind the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. But plunging into a story that illustrated the background, the key events (no pun intended), and the effects of Francis Scott Key’s mighty words is truly rewarding. There have been inspiring moments in the history of America, and Oh, Say Can You See? captured one of those segments in a wonderful way.

I have not read the previous three volumes of Lewis’ Free Men and Dreamers series (Oh, Say Can You See? is the fourth). But that was not a problem. Lewis provides enough background information to make Oh, Say Can You? See sufficient to stand alone. However, this book did kindle my interest to learn the prior elements of the war of 1812 by reading the first three volumes in the series.

I am delighted that L.C. Lewis combined great research with quality writing to provide a more in-depth look at a fundamental segment of American history. The characters are believable, noble, and merge well with the history. Lewis does well to show dignity in humans on both sides of the conflict, which adds class to the patriotic elements.

I highly recommend Oh, Say Can You See? for all interested in American history and/or the story behind the mighty words of our national anthem. Those who enjoy historical fiction will especially enjoy this novel.

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