Paulette Jiles has written a truly exquisite novel, News of the World. The story begins in 1870, Texas. I rarely read a book twice, but I found myself rereading some of my favorite parts in this tender novel.
Captain Jefferson Kidd, a respected man in his seventies and a veteran of two wars, makes his living by traveling through Texas reading to audiences hungry for news. World news, local news, exotic news, he reads any news that takes people from the here and now and fires their imagination with the happenings of elsewhere. He slants his newspaper reading to the taste of his audience at a dime a person. On one of his trips he is approached by an acquaintance, a freighter, who has been commissioned by the Army to return a ten-year old girl, a Kiowa captive, to her family 400 miles away. The freighter cannot leave his business that long, and gives the Captain the $50 gold piece the Army has given him to have the girl returned to her relatives.
Captain Kidd agrees, but with some misgivings. The girl, Johanna, though white with blond hair and blue eyes, acts thoroughly Kiowan. She was six when her captors brutally killed her mother, father and sister. But, surprisingly, she longs for her Kiowa family. She doesn’t remember any English, nor does she have mannerisms of the “civilized.” Captain Kidd sympathizes with the girl who has been torn away from her birth family, and now from her adopted family.
With the $50 gold piece, he purchases a wagon and they begin their journey through unsettled and unforgiving territory, all the while watching for thieves, Indians, the often-corrupt federal army, and always on the lookout for those who would kidnap the girl to sell. He must also watch for her attempts to escape. The two face many dangers and physical hardships traveling across Texas.
As the miles pass, they draw closer to one another. Johanna senses Captain Kidd’s kindness and generous heart, and he worries that his little charge won’t be able to accept yet another drastic change in her life.
News of the World is an outstanding novel. I loved it; a sheer delight to read.
Sounds like another to add to my to-do reading list and will be money well-spent for a good read.
I’m sure you’ll love this book, Judith. It really stirred my heart.
I found this wonderful, introspective book to be something other than I expected when I first got it. It’s more of a slice of life, despite the central plot device of returning the girl to her parents. I felt the growing bond between the girl and Captain Kidd is the real heart of the story, one that is beautifully developed and kept me turning the pages. This is a terrific story.
I agree. A friend loaned me her copy and I kept putting off reading it. I think the title sort of turned me off. But once I got into it–only a page or two–I couldn’t put this book down. Thanks for the comment.
LOVED this book. I’ve read most of Jiles’ books but this one is my favorite. I have to say it again, I loved it. Now that you’ve reviewed News Of The World, I’m thinking to read it again.
I agree. The book was recommended by a friend–in fact, it was her copy. The title didn’t do it justice, so I didn’t read it right away. But, once into it–even the first page, I hung on every word. Simply loved it, as you did.