Abe Lincoln's Misfits

Abe Lincoln's Misfits is a bold, sweeping novel set in the turbulent 1930s, when the world stood on the brink of war and ordinary people became extraordinary in the fight against fascism. Through a chorus of diverse voices-Black war veterans, Sicilian streetwise hustlers, Southern women on the run, disillusioned insurance men, and European exiles-MJ Politis, Ph.D., brings to life the overlooked heroes of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War.

As fascist regimes gain ground in Europe and apathy grips much of America, an unlikely group of misfits, idealists, and outcasts answer a foreign call to justice. From cornfields in Iowa to the smoky backstreets of New York, from communist meeting halls to the frontlines of Madrid, these characters carry their scars, convictions, and contradictions across oceans to resist tyranny.

Driven by themes of identity, courage, betrayal, and collective struggle, the novel examines how deeply personal battles become bound to global movements. With fierce prose and cinematic intensity, Abe Lincoln's Misfits invites readers into the hearts of those often excluded from history books but who helped change the course of it.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction with political edge, this book blends the intimacy of character-driven storytelling with the urgency of revolutionary times. At once gritty and lyrical, tragic and triumphant, this is a timely reminder of what it means to choose action over silence, even when the world is watching-and doing nothing.