The son

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Philipp Meyer: The son (2013)

561 pages

English language

Published Nov. 22, 2013

ISBN:
978-0-06-212039-7
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OCLC Number:
834159090

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Part epic of Texas, part classic coming-of-age story, part unflinching portrait of the bloody price of power, this is a novel that maps the legacy of violence in the American West through the lives of the McCulloughs, an ambitious family as resilient and dangerous as the land they claim. Spring, 1849. Eli McCullough is thirteen years old when a marauding band of Comanches takes him captive. Brave and clever, Eli quickly adapts to life among the Comanches, learning their ways and waging war against their enemies, including white men, which complicates his sense of loyalty and understanding of who he is. But when disease, starvation, and overwhelming numbers of armed Americans decimate the tribe, Eli finds himself alone. Neither white nor Indian, civilized nor fully wild, he must carve a place for himself in a world in which he does not fully belong, a journey of adventure, tragedy, hardship, grit, …

1 edition

Review of 'The son' on 'Goodreads'

In this tome, Philipp Meyer has created an excellent historical novel and family saga. The overriding theme of this Texan history is that there were no innocent cultures; violence and theft were ways of surviving. Fortunately, this saga manages not to be weighed down with too many characters, despite the fact that it covers five generations of the McCullough clan. It would be hard for me to like most of these people, and yet they are complicated, all with their own experiences and perspectives. Meyer does give us one character who is very likable, though, in Peter McCullough. Peter's point of view contrasts with that of the family around him and adds even more tension and interest to this story. Also, I felt that the ending was perfect, with the added bonus of giving this tale wonderful symmetry.

Subjects

  • Families
  • Frontier and pioneer life
  • Indian captivities
  • Comanche Indians
  • Fathers and sons
  • Fiction

Places

  • Texas