Blood Moon: An American Epic of War and Splendor in the Cherokee Nation

Written by John Sedgwick

Narrated by Fred Sanders

An astonishing untold story from the nineteenth century—a “riveting…engrossing…‘American Epic’” (The Wall Street Journal) and necessary work of history that reads like Gone with the Wind for the Cherokee.

“A vigorous, well-written book that distills a complex history to a clash between two men without oversimplifying” (Kirkus Reviews), Blood Moon is the story of the feud between two rival Cherokee chiefs from the early years of the United States through the infamous Trail of Tears and into the Civil War. Their enmity would lead to war, forced removal from their homeland, and the devastation of a once-proud nation.

One of the men, known as The Ridge—short for He Who Walks on Mountaintops—is a fearsome warrior who speaks no English, but whose exploits on the battlefield are legendary. The other, John Ross, is descended from Scottish traders and looks like one: a pale, unimposing half-pint who wears modern clothes and speaks not a word of Cherokee. At first, the two men are friends and allies who negotiate with almost every American president from George Washington through Abraham Lincoln. But as the threat to their land and their people grows more dire, they break with each other on the subject of removal.

In Blood Moon, John Sedgwick restores the Cherokee to their rightful place in American history in a dramatic saga that informs much of the country’s mythic past today. Fueled by meticulous research in contemporary diaries and journals, newspaper reports, and eyewitness accounts—and Sedgwick’s own extensive travels within Cherokee lands from the Southeast to Oklahoma—it is “a wild ride of a book—fascinating, chilling, and enlightening—that explains the removal of the Cherokee as one of the central dramas of our country” (Ian Frazier).

Populated with heroes and scoundrels of all varieties, this is a richly evocative portrait of the Cherokee that is destined to become the defining book on this extraordinary people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781508254539

John Sedgwick

John Sedgwick is the bestselling author of Blood Moon: An American Epic of War and Splendor in the Cherokee Nation, and twelve other books: four works of literary nonfiction, two novels, a family memoir, and five collaborations.  He has also written extensively for The Atlantic, GQ, Newsweek, Esquire, and Vanity Fair. He is married to the CNN analyst and Financial Times columnist Rana Foroohar, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews for Blood Moon

[Ronnie Posey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a student of history...I rate this book with Empire of the Summer Moon ...outstanding

[Bill Yeadon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best book I have ever read on the Cherokees. Very balanced.

[mark rose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great detail and depth on the Cherokee people from pre revolutionary times to present

[ellenh_28 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was not a quick read, but it was a great read. Fascinating story of the Cherokee Nation. I had to purchase it.

[iadam-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. In this amazing epic the author tells us the story of the Cherokee. They were forced off their land as European settlers moved into their lands. I feel ashamed by what our ancestors did to these people over time. Two leaders were able to negotiate with American presidents to protect their sacred lands and were friends and allies at the beginning. They had promoted culture, and had become one of the more civilized tribes. They were both very proud. Over time the subject of ‘removal’ caused a great rift between the two and they became mortal enemies. They were on opposite sides during the War Between the States. Eventually they turned against each other. Murders were committed. Everything began to fall apart leading to the ruin of the Cherokee. It is obvious that the author did a great deal of research before writing this saga. This book is well written and very informative though tragic and sad but well worth the read. It is good to learn about some of the historical horrors from the past within our own country. Hopefully we can do better in the future. I look forward to reading more from John Sedgwick in the future.

[kristymk18-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating piece of history I knew nothing about. Blood Moon delves deep into the Cherokee nation, looking specifically at two rival chiefs. Highly recommend for history enthusiasts as the research that went in to this book is evident in the details.

[darcia_10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of America's saddest legacies is the way European settlers and government combined to nearly wipe out an entire indigenous population. With Blood Moon, John Sedgwick shows us how Americans' greed and civil unrest tore the Cherokee Nation in half, while taking away their land, their homes, their culture, their beliefs, and often their pride. The amount of research and detail Sedgwick put into this book is remarkable. I felt like I really knew and understood John Ross and The Ridge, two Cherokee leaders who found themselves on opposing sides when the US government demanded the entire Cherokee Nation relocate away from their homeland. The two leaders' inability - or, perhaps, stubborn refusal - to work together added to the Cherokees' confusion and inaction, inadvertently working in the Americans' favor. John Sedgwick's narrative is entertaining and immersive, and this nonfiction book often reads as smoothly as historical fiction. He walks us through the entire collapse of the Cherokee Nation, from beginning to end, so we see it unraveling in all its glory and misery. This is a comprehensive read, certainly not quick or light, but I felt all the detail enhanced the experience, providing tremendous insight into this historic event.*I received an advance ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*