by Donald Mc Caig (Author)
This astonishing novel that parallels the great American classic novel, Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, has been twelve years in the making. Now, the most beloved and most widely-read saga of the American Civil War is retold from the point of view of its unrivalled hero, the dashing and enigmatic scion of the South, Rhett Butler. See what Rhett is really thinking as he sits in the armchair listening to Scarlett declare her love for Ashley. Find out what happened on the other side of the cupboard, where Melanie was hiding. Discover the truth of Rhett's relationship with Belle Watling . . .
Brought to vivid and authentic life by the hand of a master, Rhett Butler's People fulfills the dreams of countless millions whose imaginations have been indelibly marked by Gone With the Wind.
'Rhett Butler's People covers the period from 1843 to 1874, nearly two decades more than are chronicled in Gone with the Wind . Readers will get inside Rhett's head as he meets and courts Scarlett O'Hara in one of the most famous love affairs of all time.' The New York Times
Format: Unabridged
Pages: 528
Edition: Main Market
Publisher: Pan
Published: 04 Jul 2008
ISBN 10: 0330455826
ISBN 13: 9780330455824
Get inside Rhett's head as he meets and courts Scarlett in one of the most famous love affairs of all time... -- The New York Times
McCaig creates a convincing back story and has a real feel for men and the tensions between fathers, sons, friends and soldiers, as well as the nuances of Southern honor...The novel focuses on Rhett's point of view and explains exactly where he got his dash. -- USA Today
In McCaig's capable hands, Margaret Mitchell's mystery man is still handsome and daring but fitted with a plausible backstory and human frailties...-- Roanoke Times
McCaig is a bred-in-the bones storyteller. --Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks
Rhett Butler's People broadens the canvas, giving Rhett new dueling and blockade-running adventures, and adding intriguing characters like Confederate cavalier-turned-Klansman Andrew Ravanel, a rancid version of Ashley Wilkes who romances Rhett's sister, Rosemary. McCaig paints a richer, darker panorama of a Civil War-era South, where poor whites seethe with resentment, and slavery and racism are brutal facts of life that an instinctive gentleman like Rhett can work around but not openly challenge. McCaig thus imparts a Faulknerian tone to the saga that sharpens Mitchell's critique of Southern nostalgia without losing the epic sweep and romantic pathos. The result is an engrossing update of Gone With the Wind that fans of the original will definitely give a damn about. --Publishers Weekly
McCaig has taken on a monumental task in attempting to augment the mythology of such a well-loved story...While remaining largely faithful to Mitchell's framework, he has made the story of Butler his own. -- The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)
In Gone With the Wind, Butler was mysterious, and that added to his allure. Here, we learn more about his background: about his harsh, unforgiving father; his long-suffering mother; his own wild ways.In some ways, this Rhett is a kinder, gentler sort than the one readers loved...
-- Tampa Tribune
This astonishing novel parallels Gone with the Wind, adding new dimensions to the timeless love story. -- Woodstock Sentinel-Review