For generations, the Fox family passed down stories of their patriarch, Franklin James Benjamin Fox, a tall, lanky Confederate soldier who bore a striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. Now, author Perry Fox brings that family lore to life in his new novel, Lincoln's Double: Friend or Foe. The book, released in October 2026, is a work of fiction built upon a foundation of truth, drawing on the author's grandfather's real-life experiences during the American Civil War.
The author's grandfather, known as FJB, was a 6'5" Second Lieutenant from Madison, Florida, who fought in the Virginia Peninsula, was wounded in action, and later served in the artillery. After being captured in 1865, he spent months in the notorious Camp Chase prison in Ohio. These historical details anchor the novel's imaginative premise: a kidnapped president and a secret double. The story follows Frank Fox as he is plucked from the Confederate ranks, trained to impersonate President Lincoln, and forced into an impossible choice after a failed kidnapping plot. His journey from Confederate soldier to President Lincoln's secret body double is a powerful exploration of how war can transform one's beliefs and forge unexpected bonds.
Perry Fox explains that the story began with his father, Barney, who told him about his own father. The image of his grandfather, tall like Lincoln and deeply dedicated to his family and faith, stayed with the author. Fox wanted to honor his grandfather's memory and the experiences of so many soldiers by placing him in a story that captures the moral complexity and human drama of the Civil War. Lincoln's Double: Friend or Foe is a heartfelt tribute to a grandfather the author never met, but whose legacy of faith, persistence, and honor lives on in these pages.
The announcement of this novel matters because it highlights the enduring power of family stories to illuminate historical events. By blending fact and fiction, Perry Fox offers readers a fresh perspective on the Civil War, one that emphasizes the human cost and moral dilemmas faced by individuals caught in the conflict. The book also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers on both sides, and the ways in which personal histories can inform our understanding of the past. In an era where historical memory is often contested, Lincoln's Double: Friend or Foe stands as a testament to the importance of preserving and reimagining family legacies. The novel is available for review, and its release invites readers to consider how ordinary individuals can be swept up in extraordinary circumstances, and how fiction can bridge the gap between historical record and lived experience.
