Perry Fox’s new novel, Lincoln’s Double: Friend or Foe, draws on generations of family lore about his grandfather, Franklin James Benjamin Fox, a tall, lanky Confederate soldier who bore a striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. The book, released in October 2026, blends historical fact with fiction to imagine how a man could be forced to impersonate the president he once fought against.
The real Franklin Fox, known as FJB, was a 6’5″ second lieutenant from Madison, Florida. He fought in the Virginia Peninsula, was wounded in action, and later served in the artillery. In 1865, he was captured and spent months in Camp Chase, a notorious Union prison in Ohio. These facts form the foundation of Perry Fox’s novel, which follows a fictional Frank Fox as he is plucked from the Confederate ranks, trained to impersonate Lincoln, and forced into an impossible choice after a failed kidnapping plot.
The novel’s significance lies in its exploration of how war can transform beliefs and forge unexpected bonds. By placing his grandfather in a story that captures the moral complexity and human drama of the Civil War, Perry Fox honors not only his ancestor but also the experiences of countless soldiers. The book is a tribute to a grandfather the author never met, yet whose legacy of faith, persistence, and honor lives on in its pages.
“This story started with my father, Barney, telling me about his own father,” Perry Fox said. “The image of my grandfather, tall, like Lincoln, and deeply dedicated to his family and faith, stayed with me. I wanted to honor his 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.”
While the plot of a kidnapped president and a secret double is fiction, the underlying facts about FJB’s service and imprisonment ground the narrative in reality. The novel’s release comes at a time of continued public interest in Civil War history and the ways in which family stories shape our understanding of the past. By fictionalizing his grandfather’s life, Perry Fox adds a personal voice to the broader historical record, inviting readers to consider the human choices behind wartime allegiances.
Lincoln’s Double: Friend or Foe is available for review and media requests, though no contact details are provided in this announcement. The book stands as a testament to the power of family legend and the enduring questions of loyalty, identity, and transformation that the Civil War continues to provoke.
