Beulah Land

Beulah Land Trilogy #1

by Lonnie Coleman

BEULAH LAND.....
the tremendously engrossing saga of a great Georgia plantation in its golden age, and of the men and women, white and black, who were born and died there, knew every pain and pleasure, virtue and vice.
BEULAH LAND....
where the old South as it really was is brought to intense life, in all its outward splendor and secret shame.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Civil War, Romance, Novels, Historical Romance

536 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Born William Laurence "Lonnie" Coleman. American novelist and playwright best known for writing the Beulah Land trilogy. His first novel was published in 1944. Coleman was an associate editor at Ladies Home Journal, 1947-1950, and at Collier's, 1951-1955.

Coleman's 1959 novel "Sam" is considered a groundbreaking novel in American literature in its depiction of homosexuality and metropolitan gay life.

In 1974, his book "Beulah Land" was a New York Times Best Seller. His novels "Beulah Land" and "Look Away, Beulah Land" were filmed in 1980 as the NBC miniseries Beulah Land starring Lesley Ann Warren, Michael Sarrazin. Meredith Baxter, and Don Johnson.

Coleman had three plays produced on Broadway, but none were successful.

Reviews

[Tea Jovanović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joj, sećate li se ove divne knjige... Da li ste je čitali?

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea this book was still around but I'm so glad that it is!! When I was 15 years old, I was reading this book at the suggestion of a US history buff (I wanted to go to university and major in history - and did) who said it was the antithesis of Gone With the Wind; that Beulah Land was the real version of the "old south." They were correct - to an extent. The book centers on the Kendrick family, a wealthy southern family who owned hundreds of slaves. What I remember most about the book is the Kendrick sons who repeatedly either raped or had non-violent but non-consensual sex with the young female slaves. Certainly Scarlett Ohara never talked about that, did she? Can you imagine Rhett Butler raping a slave girl? Well, yes, yes I can! But, of course, we never see that in Martha Mitchell's rose colored tale. The Kendrick family's saga is typical of the old south: the gentrified white plantation owner barely hanging on to his land, wealthy sons who think they can take whatever they want, hardworking African Americans - some treated decently while others are whipped to death. If you're going to read a book about the "old south" this is the one to read.

[LemonLinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of good historical fiction. It is probably my favorite genre and one of my favorite periods is the antebellum South. And as this book is a family saga from the pre-Civil War period, it was a good read for me. This is the first of a trilogy about this family and continues with the next one picking up during the war.

The characters were so compelling and their relationships were filled with drama including a lot of passion, revenge, friendship and a connection to each other, to the land and to their way of living. The story showed life in the South - both the good and the bad of it during these years.

I also enjoyed the interaction between and among the races and how, although there were clear delineations of how things should stand between them, it simply did not work that way. In the vein of a Gone with the Wind type of read, this book continues the story of the South on a random plantation in northern Georgia with life on the cusp of drastic change.

[Graceann · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I was a pre-teen, I wanted to read this and my mother removed it from the bookshelves in our home because it was too adult for me. So, I went to the library and read it there before coming home with books that she deemed suitable (as I did with all the titles that I was told I was "too young" for). I *loved* it then, and remembered it with great fondness, so I decided to pick it up again now to revisit the story.

This was such a profound illustration of how much my tastes have changed in 30+ years. Scenes that I remembered as being romantic and soaring were now just stupid to me. Cardboard characters, sex scenes that should have won awards for "worst sex scenes in fiction," (one in particular was so completely inane and such an insult to the reader's intelligence that I almost dumped the book at that point), and ridiculous situations. I stayed with it only out of a sense of vague curiosity and not out of any connection to the characters. Leon in particular was such a nitwit that I wasn't sure how he was able to walk without assistance and by the end of the novel, I greeted his part in the story with a shrug.

This is the first in a trilogy, but I won't be continuing. I just can't bring myself to care what happens next, nor to spend time in this story when I could be finding other, more fulfilling ones.

[Cherie M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beulah Land is the only book I remember being forbidden to read as a teenager. I finally read it in my early thirties and thought it poorly written and trashy. Don’t you hate when your parents are right, lol?!

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspect if I read the book upon receipt in my 20’s, my rating would have been higher. Entertaining read...would classify as beach material. Historical fiction based on pre-civil war plantation life. Backed up by 2 more books in the trilogy, which I may or may not read.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was on my wish list a few years ago. I had red it but ddecades ago and in Dutch.
A bookcrossing friend sent me this book.


This is what I wrote back then:
Thank you so much for fulfilling one of my wishes.
This is one of few books that I have read more then once and planning to read more then once :-)

I never knew Lonnie Coleman had written a sequel. 2 to be exact so I am trying to get the other 2 books and then I can read all 3 of them.

On Thursday, June 14, 2007 I wrote:

Well I am finally reading it.:)
I managed to order book 3 of the series on Ebay which is traveling to me as we speak (through M-Bag)

I am enjoying it. thanks. will update once I am done.

and then...on Tuesday, June 19, 2007

10 out of 10
Wow. This book was so good. Finished reading last night. Can't wait for the other 2 books of the series now.
Book 3 is on its way to me through M-Bag, which was mailed on May 8th so it can arrive any day and yesterday i ordered book 2 on abebooks.
The Legacy of Beulah land.

I am very curious to find out if I ever have read the other 2 books (In Dutch) years ago, but I think I just read this first book.
The book started off slow, but after a while it sucks you in.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was much younger, I used to think I would rather have lived in the mid-19th century. I know now that my perception of that time was mere fantasy, and knowing what I know now, I don't think I would choose that time, certainly not in the South! This is a great epic story of life on a Georgia plantation from 1820 to 1861. Full of fascinating people and circumstances, the author expertly makes you feel as if you're living through the trials and struggles of the people of Beulah Land, and even though you may not like many, if any, of the characters, you have to keep reading to find out what they do or do not do with their lives. A great book leading to the second in the trilogy.....I can't wait to read it!

[Jovana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a good book. In fact, it's a super trashy, unbelievable and offensive historical fiction-erotica blend that simply does not work, at least not for a 21st-century audience.

Why?

For one, the portrayal of the relationships between black and white people--slaves and plantation owners--is absolutely 100% offensive. On one hand, you have the 1970s brand of "Let's pretend that white people and black people got along, because that makes it easier to give black people more significant and equal roles in the story." OK, I can handle that even if it's painfully historically inaccurate and erases a lot of important historical details. At least the author did what he probably thought was noble. But then... then you have things like a slave choosing, of her own free will, to breastfeed the slave master's child and actually finding the experience positive and emotionally fulfilling. I think the fuck not.

Also, all the white characters in the novel take such a moral high road that they, plantation owners in the mid-1800s Deep South, don't believe slavery is moral. But they keep slaves. But they treat their slaves really well. But they take issue if anyone thinks slavery, especially the most unsavoury parts of it like beatings, has merit. As if this wasn't ludicrous enough, the only main character who believes slavery is morally correct and beats the slaves/carries out any evil acts is 100% black. I cannot, I simply cannot.

Honestly, I was already throwing up in my mouth at all this and there was still half of the 600-page book to go, so at this point I stared skim reading big time. I pretty much don't know what happened in the last third other than melodramatic plot points about characters I gave exactly zero fucks about. Suffice it to say the only scene that caught my skimming eye was literally incestuous rape of a minor. Which was written from the minor's perspective and portrayed as sexy.

Absolutely not.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5, no surprise here about the area of writing . pre civil war up to war, south, slaves, slave owners,,, etc. Well written , every page interesting. One very long soap opera with many surprises both happy and sad. A wonderful way to pass the time but I do not remember one damn thing about it.

Again a very pleasant way to pass a couple of days reading. We do not have to remember every living day of our lives. It would be the type of book I would take with me on a visit to old friends I had not seen for many years just in case we had all changed and we were not so much fun to be with anymore. That means it should be a permanent part of your packing.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beulah Land is a bit tough for me to review. I love historical fiction, and there were parts of this book that I really enjoyed. There were also parts I hated. I did not feel a strong connection to many of the characters, except for a few of the slaves. I don't know that I will bother with the other books in the series. It was probably a 3.5 star read for me, but I rounded it up to 4 stars because of the scope of the work.

[Laubob · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom read this 40 years ago but I never got around to it. After she passed and I inherited her books, I finally decided to read what was one of her favorites. I loved the book, though I wished more of the characters had gotten their acts together. A huge question though....what does the ending mean? I was disappointed in the last page. Is it only to get you to read the next one? Anyone else have a thought on that?

[Marco. Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It really painted a great picture of life in the South in the early 1800's. It is not pro Confederacy, but pro Southern good and bad. The characters are brilliant especially the African American ones. I love how the black and white lives mix whether they were meant to or not.

[Susan Lerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love old-fashioned historical novels, and somehow I missed this one, the first of a trilogy, set on a plantation prior to the Civil War, and written in the 1950s. It's a family saga with wonderful characters and complex relationships. I'm reading the second in the trilogy currently.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading books about this timeframe -- reminded me a lot of Gone with the Wind type books. This one has a lot of strong women throughout the book but is also filled with a lot of sexual incidents that I was not expecting. Overall it was a good book.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets 3.5 stars for content, style and history. I also gave it an additional 1.5 stars for being one of the first "adult" novels I ever read. Fond memories never die...like decent literature.

[Kathleen Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author dug into the darker side of the south during slavery. Coleman's view of the old south is right on.

[Janice Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the whole trilogy!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.

[Tony Laplume · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Gone with the Wind (the most famous modern example of the Lost Cause narrative) to Roots (the most famous recent repudiation) to The Known World (the most recent attempt at a more sober examination), slavery and the lives lived around it remains as hot a topic as it ever was in American literature. Beulah Land is a relic from fifty years ago, an attempt to find some middle ground. Lonnie Coleman set out to present for readers of his era a portrait to explain what was to be lost without ignoring why it was okay that it was destined for such a fate. He presents a massive Georgia plantation by exploring several generations of people who operated it, how their lives were ruled by melodramatic romances (Coleman himself was gay and he fills his narrative with with all possible connections, both successful and otherwise, which makes it odd for the book to exist in the limbo of memory today). Where he significantly errs (while following a track Edward Jones so famously acknowledged in his book, the existence and complicity of black leadership in the institution) is making the one true villain of the piece a black man (evoking the old lies that helped spur so much interest in the first film entitled Birth of a Nation, the inherent bad character of black peoples). Which is not to say all Coleman’s black characters are of bad character, since we meet at the very beginning the first of a long string of good ones (which is to say, he writes them as any other character, trapped up in circumstances, fully worthy of the reader’s sympathy).

Coleman often takes shortcuts when he didn’t really give the time an arc needed, which is not to say anything about the time jumps, but where and how a character who otherwise develops feelings began them or has their basic character explained, such as the de facto main character Sarah Kendrick, who begins as one half of an anonymous pair of sisters. He juggles a massive cast of characters, and sometimes it works, how he chooses to dwell on someone, and sometimes it doesn’t. He’ll change who he’s tracking from one paragraph to the next, which is one of the book’s most challenging aspects. Also, sometimes he makes general statements he thinks are common sense, but aren’t necessarily so. It is not a book of wisdom. It is an imperfect work.

All the same, by the time the war comes and you realize some characters are rooting for the South, you also know the ones you care about most see things from a perspective modern eyes are hopefully more willing to oblige. Sarah fights her whole life to have the plantation run in the ideal way Coleman knows wasn’t standard, most pointedly when he acknowledges the lack of an overseer until someone briefly claims the role. The absence of the expected is not to manufacture paradise. His characters often make bad choices, but they also are depicted as suffering for them. The book as a result is a case study of even plantation life in the best possible light often requiring the right people in the right places, and what happens when they aren’t.

This is not a lost work of classic literature. It might be closer to the mark in the genre than anything else, making an effort to explain both the people who most benefited the institution and even those who didn’t, although where Coleman falls shortest of the mark is his failure to include any depiction of the common field hands, those most likely to have a truly different perspective than anyone he does spotlight. In that sense, it’s best understood as an attempt to balance the ledgers still left lingering in the myth that won’t die, that Gone with the Wind is a reasonable way to remember the Old South and plantation life.

[Katie O’Reilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, this book is racist as shit, creepy, and gross. Did not finish!

[Dara S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great family saga starting from the early 1800's to 1861.

[Star Gibbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not overly impressed with "Beulah Land". The book was readable, but the plot was predictable and riddled with characters who don't evoke any real emotion one way or the other. I didn't find that I hated any of the characters, but I surely didn't love any of them either. I didn't really feel that many of the characters really developed. Sarah gained strength and confidence, but most of the others did not change at all. This is especially annoying with Leon. When it came time for his death even that annoyed me about him. I feel that the author crammed a large cast into one book to make it more interesting, but as a result most characters stories seem only half told or annoyingly underdeveloped. Big casts can work in books, George R. R. Martin has proven this. This author however just didn't have what it takes to successfully tell that many side by side stories. One review I saw said "Gone with the Wind with sex!". I don't think this book can be compared at all with Gone with the Wind. Yes, there was sex but I found most of it to be of little consequence to the plot. The times that babies were conceived, and Sarah's affair are the only times that the sex really makes sense. The sex scenes were written awkwardly and had no real appeal or impact. Overall this book was ok, but nothing special. I never felt totally drawn in or emotionally involved or attached to anything. Not a novel I would really recommend to anyone.

[Helen Robare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It reminded me of Gone With The Wind only it had a completely different premise. Yes, the Civil War was still going on. Yes, the main character owned slaves. But instead of being focused mainly on one character it was focused on an entire family, the Kendricks. This family was good and bad with many trials and tribulations for the main female character Sarah.

The characters were written as interesting 3 dimensional with real feelings and personalities. Even the ones that were supposed to be "evil" had their good qualities that made them sympathetic and understandable.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this book for the first time in nearly 30 years as I was given copies of the sequels. What an amazing story.

Beulah Land concerns the Kendrick, Elk and Davis families in Georgia during the early 19th C. through the beginning of the Civil War. Touching on issues of slavery, miscegenation, states' rights and more, Lonnie Coleman draws a story of a family in conflict as well as in good times.

His characters ring true, with flaws and strengths alike. Highly recommended for those who enjoy quality historical fiction.

[JanieceK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This type of fiction is usually written by females. The male perspective changed some of the scenes, I thought. It was pretty well researched and was full of interesting details about life in the South on a large plantation. Of course, most of Southern life was not spent on a large plantation. The hardback was 536 pages and it could have been edited down quite a bit. The black characters were developed very well and there was enough drama to hold your interest even though it wasn't really a "page turner."

[Arlene Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read - more like ate!- through this whole series as a teenager, and loved them, probably a very politically incorrect thing to do (being a product of a less enlightened time). I dare say, at the risk of committing heresy, I loved them better than Gone with the Wind. Gasp!

[part time librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gone with the Wind lovers (like me) will have to love this book as I did. They made it a movie too. Wonderful book and if you read it then you will of course want the second book behind it!!

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read back in the 70s

[Alice Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty good...but the ending?? Is there a sequel?

Yes, just found out , this is a trilogy...Now I am anxious to read it!!!
I enjoyed it ...