Thirteen Moons

A Novel

By: Charles Frazier

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 15 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

This magnificent novel by one of America's finest writers is the epic of one man's remarkable journey, set in 19th-century America against the background of a vanishing people and a rich way of life.

At the age of 12, under the Wind moon, Will is given a horse, a key, and a map, and sent alone into the Indian Nation to run a trading post as a bound boy. It is during this time that he grows into a man, learning, as he does, of the raw power it takes to create a life, to find a home. In a card game with a white Indian named Featherstone, Will wins - for a brief moment - a mysterious girl named Claire, and his passion and desire for her spans this novel.

As Will's destiny intertwines with the fate of the Cherokee Indians - including a Cherokee chief named Bear - he learns how to fight and survive in the face of both nature and man. Eventually, under the Corn Tassel Moon, Will begins the fight against Washington to preserve the Cherokee's homeland and culture. And he will come to know the truth behind his belief that "only desire trumps time".

Brilliantly imagined, written with great power and beauty by a master of American fiction, Thirteen Moons is a stunning novel about a man's passion for a woman, and how loss, longing, and love can shape a man's destiny over the many moons of a life.

Don't miss Charles Frazier's debut novel, Cold Mountain.

©2006 3 Crows Corporation (P)2006 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A bountiful literary panorama....The history that Frazier hauntingly unwinds through Will is as melodic as it is melancholy, but the sublime love story is the narrative's true heart." (Publishers Weekly)

Worth the listen

Well written with fully developed characters. Narrator was perfect for the main protagonist. I enjoy historical fiction and the weave of actual events and people with period facts and fictional characters drew me in

Awesome novel

I stayed up all night listening to this awesome novel. Will Patton is the perfect narrator! c I always buy mysteries and thrillers. But I never fail to try a book if this narrator It is mentioned!

Thirteen Moons

If I had to make a list of my top 10 favorite books, this would be on it.

Like going home

As a native of western North Carolina, reading Thirteen Moons was like a trip home. I could see myself walking the woodland paths of my youth, smelling the earthy odors of wet moss and crushed evergreens, and hearing the crackle of oak leaves underfoot. I heard the voice of my elders, speaking in a different time and place, when life moved at a slower pace.

Thirteen Moons left me homesick for youth and my beloved mountains. It left me yearning for Will Patten's voice. It made me book a flight home.

It's on the top of my "recommended reading" list.

Begs to be listened to

I loved it. Great narration, poetic writing, terrific story - sent me to Google to learn more about the Cherokee removal, and the Nation. I looked at the "real" book at Borders to check some spellings, and it struck me that I don't think I would have liked it so much on paper, as by ear. Have fun!!

Amazing storytelling

If you care about good storytelling grab this book right now as there is nothing better out there. It's amazingly good storytelling, with wonderful bitter-sweet story in entirely enjoyable language with few pinch of good humor here and there.

Nice Epic

I have had this book for several years, but hadn't gotten around to reading it. Like a lot of southern literature, this book starts off with an incident, in this case a telephone call, that spurs the memory of the protagonist, Will Cooper. Will's story is told in retrospect and with marvelous detail. Sometimes a bit too much detail that is not relevant to the story (I guess that's why there is an abridged version of the book available). Frazier seems like a modern day Faulkner and he uses 19th Century language as if he, himself, was living in that century. That is what gives all of his books the charm and authenticity of the period that they reflect. Will Patton's performance is, as usual, outstanding. He definitely has the southern voice to sell the author's intentions. I gave the overall and story four stars because I thought the story got to rambling and the central romantic involvement was a bit too unfulfilled for my taste, although it probably resembles real life. If you are a fan of Faulkner or southern Appalachian history, you should find this book entertaining and informative.

Quality Listen

This book is awesome. Although there is a disclaimer at the end stating the book was purely fiction, I felt as if I was reading someone's personal journal about the history of our country. The characters were well developed, the story was most engaging and the Will Patton, as usual, was fantastic. Worth every minute I spent listening.

Beautifully written, but depressing

Will Patton's narration is fabulous as always, and the book is beautifully written! The only downside to this book is that it is depressing because it slowly unfolds the story of how the Cherokee Native Americans were robbedand displaced from their homeland by our ruthless 19th century government

Held my interest...

This was a long, well written ramble through a time in history as seen through the eyes of our young man. I hate to compare it to Cold Mountain as they are very different, but It lacked any real plot or the poetic suspense of Inman's journey, Ada's yearning and her lessons in survival.
It was like reading a day by day journal. No real high points. The book meandered along in Frazier's excellent prose, yet it did not stir me. I never felt like I got to know the main character, and after the intense feelings generated in Cold Mountain, Thirteen Moons felt rather bland. I hate to use that word with such an accomplished writer, but there it is.