Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation

John Ehle

Jun 2011 · Sold by Vintage

About this ebook

A sixth-generation North Carolinian, highly-acclaimed author John Ehle grew up on former Cherokee hunting grounds. His experience as an accomplished novelist, combined with his extensive, meticulous research, culminates in this moving tragedy rich with historical detail.

The Cherokee are a proud, ancient civilization. For hundreds of years they believed themselves to be the "Principle People" residing at the center of the earth. But by the 18th century, some of their leaders believed it was necessary to adapt to European ways in order to survive. Those chiefs sealed the fate of their tribes in 1875 when they signed a treaty relinquishing their land east of the Mississippi in return for promises of wealth and better land. The U.S. government used the treaty to justify the eviction of the Cherokee nation in an exodus that the Cherokee will forever remember as the “trail where they cried.” The heroism and nobility of the Cherokee shine through this intricate story of American politics, ambition, and greed.


B & W photographs

Ratings and reviews

After reading both the wonderful "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown and engaging "Blood and Thunder" by Hampton Sides, I started reading Trail of Tears by John Ehle. It was hard to figure out of this book was meant to be a work of fiction, non fiction, a historical account, or a mixture of all 3. Ehle's writing style comes off as nonsensical in some places, there is talk about a Cherokee named Ridge starting in Chapter 1 but his introduction is scattered, and not full of much in the way of biographical information. While the historical aspects of the text is informative. As you continue to read the book it does get better in its writing format but the first couple of chapters may turn you off from wanting to continue past that.

A historical nonfiction, factual by all accounts and very informative, covering 70 years of history.

Trail of this tears

About the author

John Ehle, a sixth-generation North Carolinian, grew up on land once used as hunting grounds by the Cherokee. He is the author of fourteen highly acclaimed works. His novel The Winter People has been made into a major motion picture.