Mountain Windsong: A Novel of the Trail of Tears

by Robert J. Conley

Set against the tragic events of the Cherokees' removal from their traditional lands in North Carolina to Indian Territory between 1835 and 1838, Mountain Windsong is a love story that brings to life the suffering and endurance of the Cherokee people. It is the moving tale of Waguli ("Whippoorwill") and Oconeechee, a young Cherokee man and woman separated by the Trail of Tears. Just as they are about to be married, Waguli is captured by federal soldiers and, along with thousands of other Cherokees, taken west, on foot and then by steamboat, to what is now eastern Oklahoma. Though many die along the way, Waguli survives, drowning his shame and sorrow in alcohol. Oconeechee, among the few Cherokees who remain behind, hidden in the mountains, embarks on a courageous search for Waguli.
Robert J. Conley makes use of song, legend, and historical documents to weave the rich texture of the story, which is told through several, sometimes contradictory, voices. The traditional narrative of the Trail of Tears is told to a young contemporary Cherokee boy by his grandfather, presented in bits and pieces as they go about their everyday chores in rural North Carolina. The telling is neither bitter nor hostile; it is sympathetic but unsentimental. An ironic third point of view, detached and often adversarial, is provided by the historical documents interspersed through the novel, from the text of the removal treaty to Ralph Waldo Emerson's letter to the president of the United States in protest of the removal. In this layering of contradictory elements, Conley implies questions about the relationships between history and legend, storytelling and myth-making.
Inspired by the lyrics of Don Grooms's song, "Whippoorwill," which open many chapters in the text, Conley has written a novel both meticulously accurate and deeply moving.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Native American, Fiction, Cultural, Adult Fiction, Historical

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Robert J. Conley was a Cherokee author and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe of American Indians. In 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.

Reviews

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for Cherokee Literature class and really enjoyed it. My professor is actually the author, and it was fantastic to talk to him and ask him questions as I was reading the novel.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part fictional love story, (based on the words of a song), and part fact (it contains actual historical documents), this book about the Trail of Tears is very interesting and informative. I didn’t think the writing was great, and I might have given up on it early on except for the fact I was interested in learning about the Trail of Tears. The book tells the story of the Cherokee people and the tragic beginnings of the removal that resulted in death of approximately 4,000 people.

[Jolynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragic yet hopeful.
We have survived.

I wish I could find the song Whipporwill by Don Grooms.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book! https://bookwinked.wordpress.com/2025...

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mountain Windsong is a novel set against the backdrop of 1830 America and the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee Nation was the model for the Indian policy promoted by the federal government and the 1st six U.S. Presidents; the Cherokees even adopted a Constitution modeled after the U.S. Constitution. The author tells us the story from the Cherokees' viewpoint, Conley includes historical background information concerning the travesty how the Cherokee Nation was mistreated during the administration of Andrew Jackson, but also provides the reader with a sense of the Cherokees' mystical philosophy and will to succeed.

[Midge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short love story during the Trail of Tears. A boy and girl Cherokee meet, fall in love and plan to marry. But before that can happen they are seperated during the removal of the Indians from North Carolina. The boy was forced to leave and go West while the girl managed to hide and stay in NC. It took 4 years for them to meet again, end of story. There is some history also, including to document wrote for the Indians to move West.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I appreciated the historical documents, the fiction sections of the book were a bit too simplistic for my taste. (In the end, huge problems were fairly easily solved by enlisting the help of a super-human, old white guy.)

[Nikki Jo Lucero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read once a few years back, I KNOW I liked it because I kept in in my collection. I want to re read it before writing a review.

[Brandon Fryman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. The facts, the love story, the poems, the story telling were all wonderful parts that contributed to this awesome book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that there were actual historical documents mixed in with the novel, but it was still hard to read due to the subject matter. However, having an idea of what happened is good for us.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday, Sunday, I made a goal for the week to read 10 more chapters of Mountain Windsong. It's almost noon on Monday and I just read the last page. I couldn't stop reading. The Trail of Tears sets the time period and historical documents add accurate details. Robert Conley weaves a novel of love, determination and survival while experiencing deep sorrow. Some say this book should be considered a classic. I agree.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale, weaving actual historical accounts, with fictional responses to the forced evacuation of the Cherokee. I didn't realize how those who hid in the mountains eventually got
some of their land back. It's a horrific piece of American history and I'm glad Professor Conley is keeping truth alive.

[Kaylin Ruth Vandermissen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a moving story relaying the struggles of the Cherokee people during the Trail of Tears. Told through a legend, song, historical documents, and a grandfather’s story to his grandson, this novel ties many separate threads together into one narrative. Because of this style, it can be a confusing read but definitely well worth it.

[Danielle Apple · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wished there was a little more of the story between the two, but I appreciated the inbetween moments with grandfather and grandson. I like that the entire treaty of New Echota is there and some history along with it. Not what I expected I guess, but still quite valuable!

[bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

powerful invocative story of the trail of tears. dense at times. but some of the wordiness captures the oppressive utilization of language to bind the Cherokee to unfair treaties.

[Steve J]

March 15, 1995