Walks Without a Soul

by George W. Proctor

Hunting down the Comanche raiders who killed his infant daughter and kidnapped his remaining family members, Nate Wagoner journeys through a hostile land where he obtains the name, "Walks Without a Soul." Reprint.

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1990

About the author

Often credited as Geo. W. Proctor
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...

Reviews

[Theophilus (Theo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to read books with leading characters that I can relate to. I also like westerns. It is not often that I find a western that has an African American as a leading character. Procter hit my nail on the head. "Walks Without a Soul" takes place in pre-civil war Texas. Nate is a slave owned by a man who cannot afford the upkeep on his slaves, Nate and his wife and four children, so he gives them a plot of land to work for themselves and give him a portion of their crop (kind of like post-war sharecropping). During a Comanche raid, Nate's wife and daughters are kidnapped along with the master's wife and daughter. The local landowners, all prejudiced towards Nate and any black person, undertake to rescue their loved ones. They only partially succeed and give up. Only Nate is willing to continue the search for his wife and children and his master's wife and daughter. His master offers him freedom if he can bring them back. Nate embarks on long (months) journey into hostile native American lands to barter for the captives. He undergoes much suffering and disappointment, but in the end his quest proves bittersweet. A wonderful story reminiscent of the Britt Johnson of the Elm Creek raid in Texas in 1864. Very enjoyable. The story flows logically even though it is compressed. No wasted prose.

[Cws]

W Pro