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The Kentuckians #9
Run Me a River
The rich history of river life in Kentucky permeates Janice Holt Giles's novel "Run Me a River." Set in 1861, at the beginning of Kentucky's reluctant entry into the Civil War, the novel tells the story of a five-day adventure on the Green River. Aboard the "Rambler," a ramshackle steamboat, Captain Bohannon Cartwright and his crew journey 184 miles and pick up two extra passengers along the way. The boatmenrescue "Sir Henry" Cole, a former Shakespearean actor, and his granddaughter Phoebe from their skiff when it overruns in a squall. As romance blossoms between Phoebe and Captain Bo, a conflict escalates between Confederate and Union forces fighting for control of the river.
Janice Holt Giles (1905-1979), author of nineteen books, lived and wrote near Knifley, Kentucky, for thirty-four years. Her biography is told in "Janice Holt Giles: A Writer's Life."
Janice Holt Giles (1905-1979), author of nineteen books, lived and wrote near Knifley, Kentucky, for thirty-four years. Her biography is told in "Janice Holt Giles: A Writer's Life."
- GenresHistorical Fiction
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Janice Holt Giles
39 books47 followersJanice Holt Giles was an American writer best known for her series of pseudo historical novels focusing on life on the American frontier, particularly within Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 27, 2018
Run Me a River is one of my favorite J. H. Giles books. It has great action and fun characters. The main character is twenty-four year old Bohannon Cartwright, the stream boat captain of the Rambler. Bo is a grandson of Tattie and Cassius Cartwright of The Land beyond the Mountains.
Run Me a River begins at the onset of the Civil War. In September 1861 Kentucky is hesitant to enter the war. Among Kentuckians, loyalty to the war effort is divided or ambiguous. Bo is one who doesn’t know what he thinks. As many Kentuckians, he wants to remain neutral, and protect Kentucky’s interests but neither side will allow this. Kentucky is valuable to both the Confederates and the Union. As a result of entering the war, Kentucky would divide friends and families, associates and neighbors.
As the story begins, the Rambler and its crew launches into what would, if not for the war, be a typical 5 day voyage down Green River. After leaving Bowling Green, KY the crew rescues a former Shakespearean actor and his granddaughter, which adds color and humor to the story. Next the skirmish with Confederate troops is an adventure for the crew but a coming-of-age for Bo. The Rambler also has a run-in with a crippled Federal gunboat, while ferrying sheep, cows, hogs and chicken further down the River. The journey concludes in Evansville, IN with a satisfying ending.
Giles’ stereotyping of African Americans will offend contemporary readers but is not unusual for literature of its time. (1964)
Run Me a River begins at the onset of the Civil War. In September 1861 Kentucky is hesitant to enter the war. Among Kentuckians, loyalty to the war effort is divided or ambiguous. Bo is one who doesn’t know what he thinks. As many Kentuckians, he wants to remain neutral, and protect Kentucky’s interests but neither side will allow this. Kentucky is valuable to both the Confederates and the Union. As a result of entering the war, Kentucky would divide friends and families, associates and neighbors.
As the story begins, the Rambler and its crew launches into what would, if not for the war, be a typical 5 day voyage down Green River. After leaving Bowling Green, KY the crew rescues a former Shakespearean actor and his granddaughter, which adds color and humor to the story. Next the skirmish with Confederate troops is an adventure for the crew but a coming-of-age for Bo. The Rambler also has a run-in with a crippled Federal gunboat, while ferrying sheep, cows, hogs and chicken further down the River. The journey concludes in Evansville, IN with a satisfying ending.
Giles’ stereotyping of African Americans will offend contemporary readers but is not unusual for literature of its time. (1964)
March 12, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, which is usually the case when I read Janice Holt Giles... The characters are all great, the history of the time period is interesting, and the romance is understated but sweet and engaging. The writing style in this one struck me as a bit different than her others that I have read... It is quite wordy and extra descriptive in places, of both the natural world and the thoughts the characters are having. It flows very naturally though, kind of like a river, now that I think of it - maybe she did it that way on purpose? Overall another great read from JHG...
June 7, 2011
Read the paperback edition.
Great, likeable characters who truly appreciate the simple life which, unfortunately, becomes not all so simple when they are thrown into the midst of the conflict between north and south on the Green River of Kentucky.
The slavery is taken as just a given part of their lives. I however, found it amazing to think that people actually "owned" other people so casually.
Exciting, heart-warming, suspenseful. Very well written.
Great, likeable characters who truly appreciate the simple life which, unfortunately, becomes not all so simple when they are thrown into the midst of the conflict between north and south on the Green River of Kentucky.
The slavery is taken as just a given part of their lives. I however, found it amazing to think that people actually "owned" other people so casually.
Exciting, heart-warming, suspenseful. Very well written.
sent-back
November 27, 2012Beginning of the Civil War in Kentucky.
July 12, 2016
Not my type of book. However, that being said, it was incredibly well written, and a fairly historically-accurate tribute to the steamboat industry in Kentucky at the commencement of the Civil War.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews