1997NBA 1997
Cold Mountain
Charles Frazier · b. 1950 · United States
Why it matters
A wounded Confederate deserter walks home across a war-ravaged Appalachia in a journey modeled on Homer's Odyssey, alternating with the woman he loves fighting to keep his family's mountain farm alive. Frazier's National Book Award winner became a phenomenon, and rightly so.
At a glance
war novelhistorical fiction
Difficulty 4/10medium pace449 pagesRichly physical, patient prose carries a long journey at an accessible, steady pace.
Deep dive
Why Frazier's Odyssey never lets its Penelope simply wait, and what it costs Ada to build a self that doesn't depend on a man's return.
Where to go next
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