The Color of Lightning: A Novel

Paulette Jiles

Oct 2009 · Sold by Harper Collins

About this ebook

“Meticulously researched and beautifully crafted.... This is glorious work.” — Washington Post

“A gripping, deeply relevant book.” — New York Times Book Review

 From Paulette Jiles, author of the critically acclaimed New York Times bestsellers Enemy Women and Stormy Weather, comes a stirring work of fiction set on the untamed Texas frontier in the aftermath of the Civil War. One of only twelve books longlisted for the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize—one of Canada’s most prestigious literary awards—The Color of Lightning is a beautifully rendered and unforgettable re-examination of one of the darkest periods in U.S. history.

Ratings and reviews

I have always liked historic fiction.If you want a happy ending,this novel mayn't be for you,however if you like your novels to tell you an interesting tale, this is a novel that might have been tailor made for you.'The Color of Lightening' is based upon a real',named ' Freighter named Britt Johnson,who went into the Texas wildness and brought back his wife and children,as well as two other captives from the Kiowa - Comanche Indians.Mr .Johnson was freed prior to the Civil War and ran a Freighter business . While away , his wife and children were taken prisoners during the Indian Wars.This novel is a well written tribute to this courageous black man and keeps a reader interested.

About the author

Paulette Jiles is a novelist, poet, and memoirist. She is the author of Cousins, a memoir, and the novels Enemy Women, Stormy Weather, The Color of Lightning, Lighthouse Island, Simon the Fiddler, and News of the World, which was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award. She lives on a ranch near San Antonio, Texas.