Charles Frazier’s second novel, Thirteen Moons, returns to the 19th century North Carolina of his best selling first novel, Cold Mountain. However, rather than the Civil War, this novel focuses on the Cherokee Indians with emphasis on the famous Trail of Tears removal of the Cherokee Nation to the West in 1838.
Written as a memoir, the novel covers the life of Will Cooper, an orphan who was adopted by a Cherokee Chief and became a trader, a lawyer, a real estate tycoon, a senator, a colonel, a de facto Cherokee Chief, and acquainted with Andrew Jackson, John Calhoun, Davie Crockett and other notables. (Frazier certainly owes a debt to Thomas Berger’s Little Big Man in his main character's exploits and his broad plot outline and structure.)
Even though Cooper’s adoptive father, Bear, and his clan are not members of the Cherokee Nation, but live in the rugged mountains of North Carolina, land considered useless by many, the U.S. government wants them removed to the territories along with the Cherokee Nation. Cooper negotiates with the government to exempt Bear’s people from the removal.
The novel is somewhat episodic and covers about 80 years, but it is held together by the themes of the Indians’ struggle to maintain their lands, the changes wrought by white settlement, and the beauty of the unspoiled landscape. Another thread that holds the novel together is Cooper’s love for Claire, a love which is experiences loss time after time.
Frazier makes a disclaimer in his "Author's Note" that "Will Cooper is not William Holland Thomas, though they do share some DNA." However, in Cherokee Nation: a History, author Robert Conley describes William Thomas as "a white man who had been raised by the Cherokees, spoke the language, and was generally well thought of among the Cherokees." He continues to describe an account of Thomas helping U.S. soldiers to track down and execute a family of Cherokee who had killed several soldiers. Frazier uses this event in his novel and the description of Thomas fits Cooper exactly.
Frazier successfully puts a human face on the conflict and injustice experienced by the Cherokee during this time. Frazier's evocative descriptions of the North Carolina mountains and the life of the Indians living there are beautiful and worth the time to read the novel.
Carol H. Warfel
Written as a memoir, the novel covers the life of Will Cooper, an orphan who was adopted by a Cherokee Chief and became a trader, a lawyer, a real estate tycoon, a senator, a colonel, a de facto Cherokee Chief, and acquainted with Andrew Jackson, John Calhoun, Davie Crockett and other notables. (Frazier certainly owes a debt to Thomas Berger’s Little Big Man in his main character's exploits and his broad plot outline and structure.)
Even though Cooper’s adoptive father, Bear, and his clan are not members of the Cherokee Nation, but live in the rugged mountains of North Carolina, land considered useless by many, the U.S. government wants them removed to the territories along with the Cherokee Nation. Cooper negotiates with the government to exempt Bear’s people from the removal.
The novel is somewhat episodic and covers about 80 years, but it is held together by the themes of the Indians’ struggle to maintain their lands, the changes wrought by white settlement, and the beauty of the unspoiled landscape. Another thread that holds the novel together is Cooper’s love for Claire, a love which is experiences loss time after time.
Frazier makes a disclaimer in his "Author's Note" that "Will Cooper is not William Holland Thomas, though they do share some DNA." However, in Cherokee Nation: a History, author Robert Conley describes William Thomas as "a white man who had been raised by the Cherokees, spoke the language, and was generally well thought of among the Cherokees." He continues to describe an account of Thomas helping U.S. soldiers to track down and execute a family of Cherokee who had killed several soldiers. Frazier uses this event in his novel and the description of Thomas fits Cooper exactly.
Frazier successfully puts a human face on the conflict and injustice experienced by the Cherokee during this time. Frazier's evocative descriptions of the North Carolina mountains and the life of the Indians living there are beautiful and worth the time to read the novel.
Carol H. Warfel
1 comment:
Carol -
I enjoyed your reviewed immensely.
Well worth the read. Frazer seems to favor the episodic style - as Cold Mountain was so Homeric in its style. Thanks for the review. I'll definately add this to my ever-expanding pile of "books to read" on a rainy day -
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