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Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation Audiobook
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(3.99) - 1,089 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A sixth-generation North Carolinian, highly-acclaimed author John Ehle grew up on former Cherokee hunting grounds. His experience as an accomplished novelist, combined with his extensive, meticulous research, culminates in this moving tragedy rich with historical detail. The Cherokee are a proud, ancient civilization. For hundreds of years they believed themselves to be the "Principle People" residing at the center of the earth. But by the 18th century some of their leaders believed it was necessary to adapt to European ways in order to survive. Those chiefs sealed the fate of their tribes in 1875 when they signed a treaty relinquishing their land east of the Mississippi in return for promises of wealth and better land. The U.S. government used the treaty to justify the eviction of the Cherokee nation in an exodus that the Cherokee will forever remember as the "trail where they cried." John McDonough narrates with thoughtful gravity. The heroism and nobility of the Cherokee shine through this intricate story of American politics, ambition, and greed.
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"A brilliant and sobering depiction of Native American culture and hardships leading up to and during the Trail of Tears period, perhaps the best documented societal dislocation of the American 19th Century. The Cherokee nation made extraordinary strides in literature and agriculture through their contact, competition, and cooperation with Western men, developing an authentically Cherokee literary culture and tradition, embracing cultural advancement without surrendering cultural identity. But, in the end, the Cherokee genius and adaptability did not save them from the cruelties of cultural competition and forced relocation on the Trail of Tears. Many Americans today have Cherokee ancestors. Many assimilated and married into Western families long before the catastrophic and unnecessary decision of Andrew Jackson to remove the Cherokee to the "Indian Territory." This is the story of a great and tragic people, told in part through the inclusion of primary sources and with deep understanding and humanity."
— Sisyphus (5 out of 5 stars)
Trail of Tears Listener Reviews
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David Carden, 1/9/2024
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Steven Brown, 7/18/2023
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" A bit slow at first, but the story eventually was gripping. As a Missouri boy with Cherokee blood (1/32) in me, I appreciated learning more about how the federal government, dating from Washington, but primarily during the Jackson years, worked to get the Eastern native Americans to move to Oklahoma and beyond. As the Cherokees referred to it, the "Trail Where They Wept" was an extremely difficult journey. The disagreements within the Cherokee nation itself over the terms of the treaty were indicative of the disunity caused by the forced evacuation. "
— Rob, 2/4/2014 -
" I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's obvious that the author did his homework; it's very well researched. On the other hand, I didn't find it to be a very readable book. I often lost track of the main characters and felt this was largely because the author didn't do a great job transitioning from one subject to the next. Also, I found his own intrepetations of what might have happened or what might have been going through one of the main actor's mind frequently unsubstantiated and confusing. Finally, I had a hard time following much of his research and often wondered about the accuracy -- knowing that history can never be one hundred percent objective -- of his representation of events. "
— Julie, 2/1/2014 -
" I could not finish this book. It is written in very stilted language, is not at all engaging. While this is a very interesting and poignant story overall, the book itself is not easy to read. "
— Gail, 1/4/2014 -
" the saddest book i read this year "
— Leighann, 1/3/2014 -
" I expected a sensitive narrative of the tragic events of the 1830s, but this one did not deliver. It's written in a quirky fashion, which I found offputting, and it's surprisingly sterile. "
— David, 12/29/2013 -
" I really like the way this is written easy to understand and not dry.I'm enjoying it and learning of my past as well. "
— Robin, 12/25/2013 -
" Since I have a Cherokee ancestor, I was interested in learning a little about their history. It was insightful about the Cherokee people and also how badly some leaders behaved, both in the U.S. Government and in the Cherokee Government. The story of their forced exodus was very moving. "
— Wow, 12/24/2013 -
" Beautifully written but depressing. The story of this depressing part of our history from the point of view of the victims. "
— Costacoralito, 12/22/2013 -
" I found it very cumbersome to read. The subject matter is good but the book would have been more readable if the information wasn't so concentrated. "
— Eric, 12/1/2013 -
" The first 20-something pages are slow going. I put it down for a couple months, thinking I was never going to finish it. The pace started to speed up after the first two chapters. Full of the history (leading up to the Trail of Tears and its aftermath) and culture of the Cherokee. "
— Karen, 11/20/2013 -
" Amazing history. Very detailed and thoroughly researched "
— Lara, 11/9/2013 -
" it shows the truth of Native American History or the removal of Native Americans in America. "
— Farhana, 10/30/2013 -
" glad I read it. "
— Jacky, 6/24/2013 -
" VERY detailed, VERY thorough history about the Cherokee Nation, leading up to and including their "removal." Could have done with about half of the details, but still, it was good to get the full history. "
— Mary, 1/18/2013 -
" A poignant and informative book about the history of the Cherokee nation. "
— Chenoajohnson, 11/11/2012 -
" Fascinating narrative of the Cherokee nation and their betrayal by the United States government. "
— Chris, 10/26/2012 -
" This should be a book required for all high school students to educate them on the treatment by the government of Native Americans. "
— Shane, 6/28/2012 -
" Got this from my mom, and decided to read it because I had just read A Parchment of Leaves, which deals with some of the Cherokee removal issues. So glad I did. It read a little like a textbook at times, but I learned so much about this period in our history. Very enlightening. "
— Linda, 6/3/2012 -
" Pretty boring recounting of this tragic American event. "
— James, 11/7/2011 -
" What a tough read. Totally unlike Ehle's fiction, this is dry as a bone. "
— Sue, 7/22/2011 -
" ...an alive absorbing account of a piece of our history, factual and well written. I highly recommend it. "
— Renny, 12/15/2010 -
" Sad, but really good. I only read the first 2/3 or so because I was more interested in the Cherokee way of life, religion, and philosophy than the awful story of their final exile. Culture clashes are often ugly things. "
— Luke, 9/2/2010 -
" Amazing historical literature and a tragic fact that I am embarrassed to have read. I loved this book! "
— Patricia, 6/15/2010 -
" This was a difficult read for me as some of my family members were portrayed in this book. "
— Angela, 6/13/2010 -
" Beautifully written but depressing. The story of this depressing part of our history from the point of view of the victims. "
— Costacoralito, 3/9/2010 -
" the saddest book i read this year "
— Leighann, 1/19/2010 -
" A poignant and informative book about the history of the Cherokee nation. "
— Chenoajohnson, 10/9/2009 -
" I could not finish this book. It is written in very stilted language, is not at all engaging. While this is a very interesting and poignant story overall, the book itself is not easy to read. "
— Gail, 7/4/2009 -
" Pretty boring recounting of this tragic American event. "
— James, 5/5/2009
About John Ehle
John Ehle is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. He has received the Lillian Smith Prize and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Award.
About John McDonough
John McDonough, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices, has narrated dozens of audiobooks, and won eleven Earphones Awards. He is known for his narrations of children’s books, including Robert McCloskey’s Centerburg Tales and Albert Marrin’s Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Outside of his audiobook work, he has starred in a revival of Captain Kangaroo on the Fox Network.