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Buffalo Gordon #2
Buffalo Gordon on The Plains
The tumultuous years after the Civil War are seen through the unique perspective of an escaped slave who became a sergeant major of the United States Cavalry in this ambitious, adventurous saga about one man's experiences as an African-American Buffalo Soldier.
Deep in the plains of Kansas, on the brink of a bitter winter, Nate Gordon must aid the United States in clearing the frontier of hostile Cheyenne warriors, the feared Dog Soldiers. When not clashing with these seasoned hunters, or the prejudices of his commanding officers, he seeks comfort in thinking of his headstrong, beautiful lover, Cara, a Comanche Mexican woman who is also an escaped slave.
From his escape from slavery aboard a Louisiana steamboat, with a debonair octoroon as his only friend, to the horrors he witnessed at the hands of murderous Missouri bushwhackers, Nate has known adventures and hardships. Armed with the knowledge of his experiences, Nate must prepare himself to meet his enemies as he joins forces with some of the West's most legendary characters "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Kit Carson, and General George Custer. But Nate's battle becomes more personal when he discovers that Cara, pregnant with his child, has been kidnapped by her cruel former master.
J. P. Sinclair Lewis delves deeply into the lives of African-Americans serving in the military. With his rich attention to historical detail, Lewis acknowledges the real trials these brave soldiers had to face, making Nate Gordon a compelling hero, and Buffalo Gordon on the Plains, a worthy and exciting new addition to the world of historical fiction.
Deep in the plains of Kansas, on the brink of a bitter winter, Nate Gordon must aid the United States in clearing the frontier of hostile Cheyenne warriors, the feared Dog Soldiers. When not clashing with these seasoned hunters, or the prejudices of his commanding officers, he seeks comfort in thinking of his headstrong, beautiful lover, Cara, a Comanche Mexican woman who is also an escaped slave.
From his escape from slavery aboard a Louisiana steamboat, with a debonair octoroon as his only friend, to the horrors he witnessed at the hands of murderous Missouri bushwhackers, Nate has known adventures and hardships. Armed with the knowledge of his experiences, Nate must prepare himself to meet his enemies as he joins forces with some of the West's most legendary characters "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Kit Carson, and General George Custer. But Nate's battle becomes more personal when he discovers that Cara, pregnant with his child, has been kidnapped by her cruel former master.
J. P. Sinclair Lewis delves deeply into the lives of African-Americans serving in the military. With his rich attention to historical detail, Lewis acknowledges the real trials these brave soldiers had to face, making Nate Gordon a compelling hero, and Buffalo Gordon on the Plains, a worthy and exciting new addition to the world of historical fiction.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 19, 2011
This follow-up to Buffalo Gordon is written by the grandson of prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis. It follows the life of runaway slave/Union soldier Nate Gordon as he remembers his adventures escaping slavery and fighting the Civil War.
Traveling through the South after the Civil War, Gordon saw burned out manor houses and wiped out, hopeless people struggling to survive. The Army sent his negro regiment West to tackle the Indian problem where he met Kit Carson, Generals Custer and Sheridan, mountain miners, bushwhackers and bad guys as well as Indians. I found myself saddened at the loss of Indian lives and culture, wishing we could make it right in this new century.
I found some of the writing to be raunchy-man stuff, but the story is worth the telling and retelling.
Traveling through the South after the Civil War, Gordon saw burned out manor houses and wiped out, hopeless people struggling to survive. The Army sent his negro regiment West to tackle the Indian problem where he met Kit Carson, Generals Custer and Sheridan, mountain miners, bushwhackers and bad guys as well as Indians. I found myself saddened at the loss of Indian lives and culture, wishing we could make it right in this new century.
I found some of the writing to be raunchy-man stuff, but the story is worth the telling and retelling.
April 24, 2014
What I wrote about "Buffalo Gordon" applies here, too. (I must be a glutton for punishment.) Lewis does include the occasional indelible image, but the writing style, again, is laughable. At best, these two books are drafts. Too bad Lewis doesn't live up to the legacy of his ancestor Sinclair Lewis.
July 17, 2010
Exciting, epic story of an ex-slave who joins the U.S. Army cavalry after the Civil War and lends a hand in taming the West. Fictional characters and storyline, but real history. I just had to look up Isaiah Dormann. He was real. Great story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews