War Woman: A Novel of the Real People

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't bring myself to put it down for long while I was reading it. I'm a big fan of historical fiction and I feel this book is a great example. Being a wilderness instructor in SC, we used to camp at a site called War Woman and so that is how the title was of interest to me in the first place. This book goes into great detail of War Woman's life and I feel does a good job of not glorifying her as well as demonizing her. Conley writes about Native Americans without bias and is very descriptive which allowed for me to visualize the novel while reading it. I'm looking forward to reading more of "The Real People" series in the future.

The story of Whirlwind, a dynamic Indian woman who becomes War Woman and a leader of her people. The book chronicles her long life and achievements. A little redundant in parts, but well worth the read. I especially liked it because I can relate to the area, especially Dahlonaga, a neighboring town. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Indian history.

In 1580, Whirlwind, a sixteen year old Cherokee with one-quarter Spanish blood, decides she wants to meet the Europeans. She convinces her brother and a friend to escort her to Florida where she trades for firearms to help the Real People. When she returns home, her bravery is rewarded by her people who rename her War Woman. Two decades later, gold has been found on the Cherokee land. War Woman is one of the key negotiators with the perfidious Spanish, who want all that glitters in return for nothing. Still War Woman helps her people obtain a decent deal. In 1654, War Woman leads her people into Virginia where they move into an abandoned English village. When the British return, War Woman helps her people defend their very lives against the hostile English. WAR WOMAN, A NOVEL OF THE REAL PEOPLE is an interesting historical fiction that brilliantly chronicles three events that the author feels impacted the way of life of the Cherokee Nation in the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. All three events are folded around an intrepid woman, who turns the story into a moving chronicle. Robert Conley, a winner of three Spur Awards, has written his best work to date with this classic novel. Harriet Klausner