Novel introduces readers to legendary lawman
"Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves," The Bass Reeves Trilogy, Book One, by Sidney Thompson (Bison Books, 240 pages in trade paperback, in stores)
Between the Civil War and Oklahoma Statehood, Bass Reeves became known as a deputy U.S. Marshal in Indian Territory, based out of Fort Smith, Arkansas. During his 32-year career, he is said to have arrested more outlaws than any other lawman in the territory.
Some say "The Lone Ranger" is based on the exploits of Bass Reeves. Except the Lone Ranger was a white man, and Bass was a black man, and a former slave at that.
Sidney Thompson, who teaches creative writing and African American literature at Texas Christian University, has produced the first book in a historical fiction trilogy that appears to adhere fairly closely to the life and times of the man starting with his birth and coming of age in "Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves."
Book One follows Bass through his years as a slave, up to and into the Civil War years.
Life as a slave was difficult, both physically and emotionally. At age 8, Bass is introduced to picking cotton and informed of his lot in life: "You a slave and this is slavery," his mother, Pearlalee, tells him. "And what that means is Master Reeves have the right to tell us what to do because he own the plantation and everything on it, including me and you and everyone."
The youngster picks cotton for the first time, the hot sun bearing down and mosquitoes whining in his ears and lighting to feed, as a white overseer keeps an eye on things with a whip tucked into his belt, and Bass perhaps for the first time in his life realizes his lowly situation. From this point on, in one way or another, escape is never far from his mind.
After several years he becomes a stable hand, then an apprentice to the blacksmith. At age 19, Bass becomes a house slave, in essence a body servant to the 63-year-old Master Reeves. The master then teaches the slave how to shoot, and soon Bass is winning turkey shoots throughout the region.
The year 1860 arrives and Master Reeves gives the slave to his son, George, known to Bass as Master George. The new master, a captain and later major in the Eleventh Texas Cavalry, takes Bass into battle with him as his personal servant.
Thompson's short novel is a fascinating look at life in northwest Arkansas in the years before and during the Civil War, when the future lawman came of age and ultimately made his break for freedom. The rest of the trilogy is likely to be just as intriguing, especially because that's the way the real Bass Reeves lived his life.
In case you weren't aware, the historical Bass Reeves served as a celebrated U.S. Marshal until Oklahoma Statehood in 1907, when he became a police officer in Muskogee until resigning a few years later because of declining health.
A note on language: The book takes place in a time when the N-word was used frequently in reference to people of color. Thus, the author uses it to maintain verisimilitude. However, both the publisher and Thompson have chosen not to spell the word out, so in print it appears as a "N—" — not because the people of the time used it that way, but because today's readers have different sensibilities about the racial epithet. The approach, however, does not detract from the impact of the story.
—Glen Seeber, The Oklahoman
Author Sidney Thompson has two signings coming in a few weeks.
• Commonplace Books, 1325 N Walker Ave., No. 138, 2 p.m. March 29
• Magic City Books, 221 E Archer Street, Tulsa, 7 p.m. April 8