Walks The Sky - Habeck, Ron

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Résumé :
Award winning, Walks the Sky, the first novel from promising new writer Ron Habeck, delivers the powerful story of Captain Thomas Edwards, a seasoned veteran of the Florida Seminole War, who reports to Fort Newnan in northern Georgia to assist in the removal of the Cherokee Nation to the Indian Lands west of the Mississippi. Fooled into believing the Cherokees are leaving voluntarily, Edwards imagines an easy assignment that will bolster his military credentials and jumpstart his political ambitions. Thomas is soon confronted with a ghost from his past when he discovers his childhood sweetheart, Catherine Sevenstar, living in deplorable conditions among the Cherokees being held at Fort Newnan. In defiance of orders, he embarks on a path that puts him in direct conflict with the fort's mentally deteriorating commander, Colonel Jeremiah Morse, and his psychopath henchman, Elias Watkins. With Catherine's help, Thomas devises a system to smuggle willing captives towards freedom. After several successful escapes, Thomas's plans collapse when Elias captures Catherine who is aiding a getaway. The stakes grow ever higher as Captain Edwards is forced to choose between his career, his future plans, and the woman he still loves. Walks the Sky receives five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the Highly Recommended award of excellence: A time in American history that no one talks about... this book is a poignant reminder of the painful journey of the Cherokee Indians as they are forced from their homes on the Trail of Tears to the Indian territory in Oklahoma. And not only a slice of history, but a beautiful love story stretching through time between star-crossed lovers ripped apart by prejudicial people and brought together again to save the lives of others. There are so many images which spring to mind throughout this story, and I feel that anyone who loved Dances With Wolves or Lonesome Dove, will find a heartfelt connection to this story which is rich with well-developed characters and enlightening history. This is a gritty story of pain, loss, and injustice, and the author does a remarkable job in embedding a reader into the narrative. Enough said, you won't regret reading this heart-wrenching tale.