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The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson
1875: Drunken Bride, Texas. An ex-slave named Persimmon Wilson awaits his hanging for the murder of the man who once owned him. As he waits, he pens his story. The journey of Persimmon Wilson takes the reader from the brutality of slavery on a Louisiana sugar plantation to a ranch on the Texas frontier to life among the Comanche Indians. All through his travels, Persimmon Wilson seeks the one person he loves, a light-skinned house slave named Chloe. When he finds her, she is passing for white and is the wife of their former master. This is a rip-roaring, old-fashioned adventure romance. It is also a serious examination of assumptions about identity and truth.
Current edition published by Atria Books.
Current edition published by Atria Books.
342 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
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2814 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
December 17, 2016
We first meet Persimmon Wilson as he sits in jail in a small town in Texas waiting to be hanged. Before his death he wants his story known, for people to know he is not just what he is charged with, to know his story and why he finds himself soon to be at the end of a hangman's noose.
I was quite taken with this story,, which is a heart a love story but the reader is also witness to some of America's most shameful incidents of its past. Slavery and the treatment of the American Indian. We watch as Percy, as he is called, meets Chloe when they are both sold to Master Wilson, a sugar cane plantation owner from Louisiana. He and Chloe form an instant connection, but this is complicated by Chloe's light skin and the fact that Wilson intends to make her his bed warmer.
Although we know Persy's fate from the beginning, I still wanted good things to happen for these two characters. When the Yankees capture Louisiana, though now supposedly free, their fate is still not in their own hands. We also hear about the Comanche, and a few other tribes because out West in Texas, the freedom of these tribes are coming to an end. Percy's story is a very interesting one and this book is a mix of genres, a slave narrative, a western, an adventure story and a love story. It is written in straightforward prose, just Persy telling his story, but while not dramatically told, the emotions are related in the details. The story is quick moving, as his time on this earth is limited, and mostly chronologically, a welcome form. His story is important and moving. He lived much in his short life.
ARC from publisher.
I was quite taken with this story,, which is a heart a love story but the reader is also witness to some of America's most shameful incidents of its past. Slavery and the treatment of the American Indian. We watch as Percy, as he is called, meets Chloe when they are both sold to Master Wilson, a sugar cane plantation owner from Louisiana. He and Chloe form an instant connection, but this is complicated by Chloe's light skin and the fact that Wilson intends to make her his bed warmer.
Although we know Persy's fate from the beginning, I still wanted good things to happen for these two characters. When the Yankees capture Louisiana, though now supposedly free, their fate is still not in their own hands. We also hear about the Comanche, and a few other tribes because out West in Texas, the freedom of these tribes are coming to an end. Percy's story is a very interesting one and this book is a mix of genres, a slave narrative, a western, an adventure story and a love story. It is written in straightforward prose, just Persy telling his story, but while not dramatically told, the emotions are related in the details. The story is quick moving, as his time on this earth is limited, and mostly chronologically, a welcome form. His story is important and moving. He lived much in his short life.
ARC from publisher.
June 24, 2017
I am so glad that I happened upon this incredible novel. Percy's voice felt honest and authentic... like I was sitting with him while he told me his story. Through the good, the bad and the ugly, I still fell in love with Persy. Though you know from the beginning how it will end, as a reader I kept up hope that it would turn out differently. This novel explores sensitively two of the most shameful time periods in American history... slavery & the American Indian wars. Peocock has created a masterfully written novel that I think everyone will enjoy, especially if you enjoyed The Invention of Wings and The Kitchen House. 5 big stars.
June 11, 2020
3.5 stars
From slave to Indian to awaiting his own death at the gallows, Persimmon 'Percy' Wilson has lost everything dear in his life. As he sits awaiting his last day in jail for killing the man who once owned him, Percy is scratching out his own biography.
Bought in the stockyards by Master Wilson, Percy had been a slave in Virginia, sold when his first Master died. Wilson also bought Chloe - who Percy fought his whole life to marry and settle down with. Going from a beaten slave in Louisiana, to a free man, to captured by the Comanches in Texas, he learned to live with them as a follow brave. He finally made contact with Chloe during a raid in Texas and for a short time they lived a happy life. Until the day that he ran into his former owner, Master Wilson - who had not only beaten him, but had taken Chloe as his wife and abused her regularly. His revenge was complete - he killed Master Wilson.
This book starts out very good and remains that way right up to the end. It reveals the worst of the slave treatment, the roughness of traveling in the late 1800's, and love that can sustain a person for years of separation. By starting the book on the very last day of Percy's life, then listening to him tell his story and how he ended up where he was, what happened to his family, and why he was where he was, keeps you turning pages.
I am happy that I finally took this book off my book shelf and read it. I should have dusted it off much sooner...
From slave to Indian to awaiting his own death at the gallows, Persimmon 'Percy' Wilson has lost everything dear in his life. As he sits awaiting his last day in jail for killing the man who once owned him, Percy is scratching out his own biography.
Bought in the stockyards by Master Wilson, Percy had been a slave in Virginia, sold when his first Master died. Wilson also bought Chloe - who Percy fought his whole life to marry and settle down with. Going from a beaten slave in Louisiana, to a free man, to captured by the Comanches in Texas, he learned to live with them as a follow brave. He finally made contact with Chloe during a raid in Texas and for a short time they lived a happy life. Until the day that he ran into his former owner, Master Wilson - who had not only beaten him, but had taken Chloe as his wife and abused her regularly. His revenge was complete - he killed Master Wilson.
This book starts out very good and remains that way right up to the end. It reveals the worst of the slave treatment, the roughness of traveling in the late 1800's, and love that can sustain a person for years of separation. By starting the book on the very last day of Percy's life, then listening to him tell his story and how he ended up where he was, what happened to his family, and why he was where he was, keeps you turning pages.
I am happy that I finally took this book off my book shelf and read it. I should have dusted it off much sooner...
November 26, 2019
"I have been to hangings before, but never my own."
Persimmom "Percy" Wilson sits in his jail cell as he awaits his hanging in Drunken Bride, Texas. A former slave, Percy is being punished for killing the man that used to own him and for raping this man's wife. Having being taught to read and write, Percy uses his last two days left alive to record his story. Percy was a slave on a sugar plantation turned Comanche warrior and his journey is one forged with resilience.
I had this book on my TBR pile for a while. Can not remember how is it that I came to know of this book but I am glad I did. This book was so much better than I expected. The premise was what drew me in but the story is what kept me invested. Persimmon Wilson was a field slave on Sweetmore, a sugar plantation. Chloe, a light skinned slave, is also purchased along with Percy, as a house slave. They fall in love but Master Wilson has taken an special interest in Chloe and there is nothing Percy can do to protect her. As the South is losing the war, Percy winds up free but Wilson keeps Chloe. In his journey to find her, Percy becomes a soldier, a rancher and a Comanche Warrior. This book is the perferct combination of a romance, a western, a slavery narrative and an adventure story. Percy narrates the story and his voice is raw, unapologetic and honest. In his journey Percy makes come questionable choices, some that compromise his morality, particularly with the Comanche. Yet, the way the book is written, I always found him to be sympathetic. Percy is a survivor. The main theme of this book is survival and doing what is neccessary to remain alive. The descriptions were not overtly graphic but conveyed the sense of danger and tension none-the-less. Identity and belonging often were at odds with race and I found that to be a well executed and profound exploration in this book. Highly recommended.
While Percy is the creation of the author, African Americans and Native Americans had a complex interaction. The Civil War was a catalysing event as it caused freed slaves to choose sides. Some former slaves fought for the army against the indian natives, others fought for the North and others joined indian tribes and fought alonside them. I have since learned that there were five indian tribe that took up "slave culture" and took slaves of their own. Among these, the Cherokee is the one that took the most slaves. By 1860, the Cherokee owed upwards of 4,500 black slaves, which made up almost 15% of their entire population. The circumstances of these slaves were similar to those on white plantations. In 1863, the Cherokee freed their slaves and in 1866, these 'Freedmen' and their descendants gained all the rights atributted to the Cherokee. Parallels can definitely be drawn between these two groups and I appreciate that Peacock brought this subject to the forefront.
Persimmom "Percy" Wilson sits in his jail cell as he awaits his hanging in Drunken Bride, Texas. A former slave, Percy is being punished for killing the man that used to own him and for raping this man's wife. Having being taught to read and write, Percy uses his last two days left alive to record his story. Percy was a slave on a sugar plantation turned Comanche warrior and his journey is one forged with resilience.
I had this book on my TBR pile for a while. Can not remember how is it that I came to know of this book but I am glad I did. This book was so much better than I expected. The premise was what drew me in but the story is what kept me invested. Persimmon Wilson was a field slave on Sweetmore, a sugar plantation. Chloe, a light skinned slave, is also purchased along with Percy, as a house slave. They fall in love but Master Wilson has taken an special interest in Chloe and there is nothing Percy can do to protect her. As the South is losing the war, Percy winds up free but Wilson keeps Chloe. In his journey to find her, Percy becomes a soldier, a rancher and a Comanche Warrior. This book is the perferct combination of a romance, a western, a slavery narrative and an adventure story. Percy narrates the story and his voice is raw, unapologetic and honest. In his journey Percy makes come questionable choices, some that compromise his morality, particularly with the Comanche. Yet, the way the book is written, I always found him to be sympathetic. Percy is a survivor. The main theme of this book is survival and doing what is neccessary to remain alive. The descriptions were not overtly graphic but conveyed the sense of danger and tension none-the-less. Identity and belonging often were at odds with race and I found that to be a well executed and profound exploration in this book. Highly recommended.
While Percy is the creation of the author, African Americans and Native Americans had a complex interaction. The Civil War was a catalysing event as it caused freed slaves to choose sides. Some former slaves fought for the army against the indian natives, others fought for the North and others joined indian tribes and fought alonside them. I have since learned that there were five indian tribe that took up "slave culture" and took slaves of their own. Among these, the Cherokee is the one that took the most slaves. By 1860, the Cherokee owed upwards of 4,500 black slaves, which made up almost 15% of their entire population. The circumstances of these slaves were similar to those on white plantations. In 1863, the Cherokee freed their slaves and in 1866, these 'Freedmen' and their descendants gained all the rights atributted to the Cherokee. Parallels can definitely be drawn between these two groups and I appreciate that Peacock brought this subject to the forefront.
July 25, 2013
True confession 1 - I have known Nancy Peacock since 7th grade, admire her greatly and am very fond of her.
True confession 2 - I have read all of Nancy's books. Life Without Water I enjoyed very much. Home Across The Road I didn't. (I have told Nancy this, so she won't be upset to read it here) The essays compiled in A Broom of One's Own I thought were delightful, charming, and sometimes funny.
But nothing in Nancy's other books prepared me for The Life & Times of Persimmon Wilson. It is beautifully written, has a gripping plot and is one of those rare books -for me anyway- that I find myself thinking about when I am not reading it. I forget about Nancy totally as I am engrossed in the story - reading until 3:00 AM and loath to put down the book. Night one I read the first third of the book. Night two I read the next third, and tonight is night 3.
Tonight I will finish the story, so I have to go to bed and leave this review behind here. However, I leave my review urging you to buy the book and jump into the life of Persimmon Wilson. You won't regret it.
Several of my friends will be getting copies of this novel for birthday or holiday presents. And it won't be because I've known Nancy since 7th grade. It will be because this is one really great book.
True confession 2 - I have read all of Nancy's books. Life Without Water I enjoyed very much. Home Across The Road I didn't. (I have told Nancy this, so she won't be upset to read it here) The essays compiled in A Broom of One's Own I thought were delightful, charming, and sometimes funny.
But nothing in Nancy's other books prepared me for The Life & Times of Persimmon Wilson. It is beautifully written, has a gripping plot and is one of those rare books -for me anyway- that I find myself thinking about when I am not reading it. I forget about Nancy totally as I am engrossed in the story - reading until 3:00 AM and loath to put down the book. Night one I read the first third of the book. Night two I read the next third, and tonight is night 3.
Tonight I will finish the story, so I have to go to bed and leave this review behind here. However, I leave my review urging you to buy the book and jump into the life of Persimmon Wilson. You won't regret it.
Several of my friends will be getting copies of this novel for birthday or holiday presents. And it won't be because I've known Nancy since 7th grade. It will be because this is one really great book.
September 2, 2013
It is 10 years after the freedom war. The soldiers of the Union Army have left the South to wrestle with itself, and all the slaves they freed, to hunt the unconquered peoples of the West. And in a tiny town called Drunken Bride, Texas, a black man who is about to hang is trying to explain to us why he was convicted of killing a white man, and raping that man’s wife.
From the first few pages, when he describes to us his first meeting with Wilson, the man who gave him his white name, Persy grabs hold of your heart. You will be glued to these pages until you run out of breath. At some points you may have to pause to rest, because the depth of Persy’s pain simply cannot pass by unremarked. You must pause, and mourn with him.
Persy’s world is fully brought to life here--you can smell it, taste it, touch it, feel it. Wilson sells sugar cane, and Persy shows us the horrible truth behind the phrase “sold down the river.” I don’t think I will ever look at the slowly moving swamp waters of Louisiana the same way again, now that I’ve heard the sound of bodies being pushed off tugs when slaves cried from the fear of escaping the Confederacy in the middle of the night.
Nor will the great canyons and wide open spaces of Texas feel as welcoming to me, at least not for a while; not now that I hear Army soldiers exploding down upon the tipis of a Comanche village, leaving women and children bleeding to death on the desert floor while flames boil up into the sky.
In this book you will travel with Wilson through his harrowing, conflicted and bittersweet journey through enslavement to personhood. That journey, if you are willing to take it, will give you a transformative understanding of a part of history overlooked in emancipation celebrations.
I don’t know, myself, what the great American novel is supposed to look like. But I think it might give us a full sense of the perils of judgment, lived by someone on the wrong side of it. A slave who found his true self among a tribe of killers. Would such a man want to be part of the country that became America? And what does knowing Persy tell us about America today? I can’t broach that wider discussion, but I can say I believe that books like this show that there are no sides, only stories. And the more stories we read, and learn, and tell, the more we understand each other. With understanding comes compassion; with compassion, one day, comes the inability to hurt one another. Too late for Persy. But maybe that’s why he is telling us his story now. When you reach the last word, Persy’s story will be over. But his lesson will resonate with you for a very long time to come.
How many books have you read that you can say that about?
From the first few pages, when he describes to us his first meeting with Wilson, the man who gave him his white name, Persy grabs hold of your heart. You will be glued to these pages until you run out of breath. At some points you may have to pause to rest, because the depth of Persy’s pain simply cannot pass by unremarked. You must pause, and mourn with him.
Persy’s world is fully brought to life here--you can smell it, taste it, touch it, feel it. Wilson sells sugar cane, and Persy shows us the horrible truth behind the phrase “sold down the river.” I don’t think I will ever look at the slowly moving swamp waters of Louisiana the same way again, now that I’ve heard the sound of bodies being pushed off tugs when slaves cried from the fear of escaping the Confederacy in the middle of the night.
Nor will the great canyons and wide open spaces of Texas feel as welcoming to me, at least not for a while; not now that I hear Army soldiers exploding down upon the tipis of a Comanche village, leaving women and children bleeding to death on the desert floor while flames boil up into the sky.
In this book you will travel with Wilson through his harrowing, conflicted and bittersweet journey through enslavement to personhood. That journey, if you are willing to take it, will give you a transformative understanding of a part of history overlooked in emancipation celebrations.
I don’t know, myself, what the great American novel is supposed to look like. But I think it might give us a full sense of the perils of judgment, lived by someone on the wrong side of it. A slave who found his true self among a tribe of killers. Would such a man want to be part of the country that became America? And what does knowing Persy tell us about America today? I can’t broach that wider discussion, but I can say I believe that books like this show that there are no sides, only stories. And the more stories we read, and learn, and tell, the more we understand each other. With understanding comes compassion; with compassion, one day, comes the inability to hurt one another. Too late for Persy. But maybe that’s why he is telling us his story now. When you reach the last word, Persy’s story will be over. But his lesson will resonate with you for a very long time to come.
How many books have you read that you can say that about?
September 3, 2016
FIVE STARS! Pardon the caps. I usually have trouble starting a review but not this time! Five, well you get the idea.
Persimmon Wilson was born a slave and we are introduced to him as he awaits his end. This book is written in the first person since Persy is writing down his story, his life.
Persy is sent down river to New Orleans to be sold away from his family because his Master, a good Master, has passed away with many debts and so his belongings, his slaves, are sold to pay his debts. The Master’s wife has taught Persy to read and write but this is a skill he is wise enough to hide from his new Master. On the journey to his new home he forms a bond with Chloe, a pretty young woman whose light colored skin earns her the distinction of being what was called a fancy and unfortunately she also earned the unwanted attention of their new Master.
This is the story of Persy’s and Chloe’s slowly blooming trust and love for each other and the hardships of the Civil War which tears them apart. When the war is over they have been separated and so begins Persy’s adventure to find his Chloe again.
This is such a wonderful story and so well told. The author has obviously done a great deal of research which shows in all the information and background we are exposed to while reading this book. There is sadness and moments of joy for these vividly portrayed characters but it is also the history we learn that I found so very interesting and enjoyable.
I highly recommend this book.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway.
Persimmon Wilson was born a slave and we are introduced to him as he awaits his end. This book is written in the first person since Persy is writing down his story, his life.
Persy is sent down river to New Orleans to be sold away from his family because his Master, a good Master, has passed away with many debts and so his belongings, his slaves, are sold to pay his debts. The Master’s wife has taught Persy to read and write but this is a skill he is wise enough to hide from his new Master. On the journey to his new home he forms a bond with Chloe, a pretty young woman whose light colored skin earns her the distinction of being what was called a fancy and unfortunately she also earned the unwanted attention of their new Master.
This is the story of Persy’s and Chloe’s slowly blooming trust and love for each other and the hardships of the Civil War which tears them apart. When the war is over they have been separated and so begins Persy’s adventure to find his Chloe again.
This is such a wonderful story and so well told. The author has obviously done a great deal of research which shows in all the information and background we are exposed to while reading this book. There is sadness and moments of joy for these vividly portrayed characters but it is also the history we learn that I found so very interesting and enjoyable.
I highly recommend this book.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway.
February 1, 2014
It's a testament to a book that when you're told the end in the beginning that every page pulls you forward to know just why and how the ending occurred. It's another compliment when a character survives hardship after hardship and you don't put the book down from exhaustion. Persimmon Wilson deals with relentless trial and vicious abuse of slavery and withstands a fearsome kidnapping by the Comanche, never mind separation from his beloved for years, but still we care and carry on with him, willing him to live even if the first page tells us different. Perhaps Persy is well named, not only for a fruit but also echoing persistence.
I think my favorite part was the way the language shifted once he was part of the Comanche. The pithy, luminous expression grew out of the new life he led, connected to the earth and living simply yet fully in a tight warrior community.
There were a few times where I wanted the language to be more like a 19th century narrative than a blend of that and a contemporary first-person narrative. The formal and omniscient tone of those texts would be there one minute, and then some modern words or use of punctuation would appear and surprise me, but I realize the voice of the novel became an effective blend that engages a modern reader.
I looked forward to reading this every night. I want to pick up other works by Nancy since I'm also a big fan of Life Without Water.
I think my favorite part was the way the language shifted once he was part of the Comanche. The pithy, luminous expression grew out of the new life he led, connected to the earth and living simply yet fully in a tight warrior community.
There were a few times where I wanted the language to be more like a 19th century narrative than a blend of that and a contemporary first-person narrative. The formal and omniscient tone of those texts would be there one minute, and then some modern words or use of punctuation would appear and surprise me, but I realize the voice of the novel became an effective blend that engages a modern reader.
I looked forward to reading this every night. I want to pick up other works by Nancy since I'm also a big fan of Life Without Water.
June 17, 2017
It's been a while since I read a book worthy of five stars and I enjoyed every minute of this one. I don't know why I'm a sucker for reading about characters enduring hardship but, because I am, I am the perfect reader for this book. Chapter after chapter is filled with tragedy for Persy but he refuses to let life, even the life of a slave in the 1860's South, keep him down. Beneath all the adversity there is a love story running throughout the novel. Persy is easily endearing due to his resilience, his education and his loyalty to his woman, Chloe. The nod to Dances with Wolves is not lost on me, as that is one of my favorite books/movies but this story is set in Louisiana/Texas and, for a time, with the Comanche tribe. The author gives an extremely enlightening sneak peek into the time period. The dialect is used flawlessly, the characters fully developed, the story engaging and heartbreaking all at once.
September 30, 2021
I picked this book up because upon a quick look at the cover decided this was about a pioneer woman named Persimmon Wilson. Guess what. . .it's not! That I'd be tripping along a pioneer trail heading west. Ok that is a little closer as there is travel, of a western sort.
With as wrong as I was in the chosing, and as hard as this book was in the reading, I'm surprised I stayed with it. I fell in love a little - with Persy - Persimmon Wilson. With the man he was on the page - for all he'd gone through and what he had suffered and sacrificed, I'm surprised the ending didn't happen earlier. This is a fiction, but it is a fictional example of real, live happenings. . . .the names have been changed to protect . .wait. Yeah, who is it history keeps behind the curtains. This book brings them out and provides something to compare with all those history books we were told to not just read, but to believe 100%.
Persy and Chole may not have existed, but I do believe many people in similar circumstances have passed through our national family and it is about time we take notice and appreciate the shoulders upon which we stand are many colors, gathered from the entire world's families, and provide foundations we will never know or be able to quantify. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try.
With as wrong as I was in the chosing, and as hard as this book was in the reading, I'm surprised I stayed with it. I fell in love a little - with Persy - Persimmon Wilson. With the man he was on the page - for all he'd gone through and what he had suffered and sacrificed, I'm surprised the ending didn't happen earlier. This is a fiction, but it is a fictional example of real, live happenings. . . .the names have been changed to protect . .wait. Yeah, who is it history keeps behind the curtains. This book brings them out and provides something to compare with all those history books we were told to not just read, but to believe 100%.
Persy and Chole may not have existed, but I do believe many people in similar circumstances have passed through our national family and it is about time we take notice and appreciate the shoulders upon which we stand are many colors, gathered from the entire world's families, and provide foundations we will never know or be able to quantify. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try.
December 19, 2013
I’m not generally drawn to Civil War fiction or, in particular, slave narratives. However, in the past couple of years I’ve read several and have been pleased with them all. There was Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez; Wash by Margaret Wrinkle; Come August, Come Freedom by Gigi Amateau. All were very well done. Now I’ve read The Life and times of Persimmon Wilson by Nancy Peacock, which is different from the others but is also excellent.
Persy, as he is known, is sold by his owner’s estate in Virginia to a cane plantation in Louisiana. There, he is mistreated by “Master” Joseph Wilson, but also manages to fall in love with Chloe, a light-skinned house slave who Master takes as his “fancy.” But the book begins as Persy is waiting to be hanged for killing Master Wilson and Persy, who learned to read and write as a child, asks for pencil and paper so that he can write down his story. The rest of the book is that story—from abuse on the plantation, trysts with Chloe, Master Wilson’s move to Texas as a means to evade the Yankees, emancipation, capture by a band of Comanche, and so on. It’s all very exciting stuff as Persy attempts to reunite with Chloe.
Black, white, and Indian, this book is filled with memorable characters. Persy himself, whom we meet as a boy of 17, is the centerpiece of the book, and it’s not hard to sympathize with his plight. Master Wilson, who is almost comical in his pretense of benevolence, is an excellent antagonist, even if he is something of a villainous stereotype. And Chloe, the beautiful, uneducated house slave who is repeatedly raped by Wilson, completes the triangle.
While some of the story is familiar—slavery is a vile institution and that is amply demonstrated by the working conditions, the whippings, the inhuman treatment—there are some new elements here. For one, Chloe is so light-skinned that she can be mistaken for being white, which adds a complexity as the book reaches its climax. For another, Persy’s capture and assimilation into the Comanche highlights the genocide perpetrated against the American Indians during this period. Don’t expect to come away from this book feeling good about 19th Century white America, Confederate or Yankee either one.
This is a very well written, compelling (and exciting!) story of one man’s life before and after the Civil War, but it’s more than that as well.
Persy, as he is known, is sold by his owner’s estate in Virginia to a cane plantation in Louisiana. There, he is mistreated by “Master” Joseph Wilson, but also manages to fall in love with Chloe, a light-skinned house slave who Master takes as his “fancy.” But the book begins as Persy is waiting to be hanged for killing Master Wilson and Persy, who learned to read and write as a child, asks for pencil and paper so that he can write down his story. The rest of the book is that story—from abuse on the plantation, trysts with Chloe, Master Wilson’s move to Texas as a means to evade the Yankees, emancipation, capture by a band of Comanche, and so on. It’s all very exciting stuff as Persy attempts to reunite with Chloe.
Black, white, and Indian, this book is filled with memorable characters. Persy himself, whom we meet as a boy of 17, is the centerpiece of the book, and it’s not hard to sympathize with his plight. Master Wilson, who is almost comical in his pretense of benevolence, is an excellent antagonist, even if he is something of a villainous stereotype. And Chloe, the beautiful, uneducated house slave who is repeatedly raped by Wilson, completes the triangle.
While some of the story is familiar—slavery is a vile institution and that is amply demonstrated by the working conditions, the whippings, the inhuman treatment—there are some new elements here. For one, Chloe is so light-skinned that she can be mistaken for being white, which adds a complexity as the book reaches its climax. For another, Persy’s capture and assimilation into the Comanche highlights the genocide perpetrated against the American Indians during this period. Don’t expect to come away from this book feeling good about 19th Century white America, Confederate or Yankee either one.
This is a very well written, compelling (and exciting!) story of one man’s life before and after the Civil War, but it’s more than that as well.
January 2, 2017
there are parts of this story that i found quite interesting, and vividly written. however, the book did feel slightly repetitive and drawn out at moments, going on a little bit longer than needed. but, as has happened when i read other white writers sharing stories about slavery or indigenous culture (and using dialects) from black or first nations' perspectives, i feel uncomfortable, questioning whether the fictional presentations are culturally appropriate and sensitive? the author addresses these concerns, somewhat, in her afterword - noting the difficulties, and that she certainly intends no offense. yet i still feel unsettled as a reader. so i am sitting with these feelings for now, as i consider my review further.
* advanced review copy provided by simon & schuster canada, with thanks and appreciation, in return for an honest review.
* advanced review copy provided by simon & schuster canada, with thanks and appreciation, in return for an honest review.
April 30, 2022
I was looking for a book of Southern fiction, when this book popped up. I thought Persimmon Wilson was a woman.
Persy was the shortened name for Persimmon Wilson. He was a Negro slave in the 1860's.
The Story is in a narrative in Persy's own words about the life he had on a Southern plantation, his escape and his travels into Texas to find Chloe a house maid that belonged to Master Wilson.
He joined with a Band of Cheyenne, lived with them and adopted their ways. He killed his former master and was hung for his crime.
Persy was the shortened name for Persimmon Wilson. He was a Negro slave in the 1860's.
The Story is in a narrative in Persy's own words about the life he had on a Southern plantation, his escape and his travels into Texas to find Chloe a house maid that belonged to Master Wilson.
He joined with a Band of Cheyenne, lived with them and adopted their ways. He killed his former master and was hung for his crime.
February 3, 2017
i really enjoyed The Invention of Wings (as referenced in the description), but I hated this book. My biggest issue with it was the central theme and focus on Persy's endless desire to be with Chloe that it read like a love/romance story which detracted from the evils and hardships of slavery and the unique perspective of living with the Comanches. The end of the book was very rushed, but I wanted it to end so badly that I didn't care.
Also, there were 2 rather descriptive sexual references that were wholly unnecessary because a)the characters were not involved in coitus and b) the descriptions were truly disgusting and vile. This is coming from someone who does not get offended by crude jokes - my face was contorted at one of the descriptions and I was trying to not to gag.
Also, there were 2 rather descriptive sexual references that were wholly unnecessary because a)the characters were not involved in coitus and b) the descriptions were truly disgusting and vile. This is coming from someone who does not get offended by crude jokes - my face was contorted at one of the descriptions and I was trying to not to gag.
November 4, 2016
Received the advanced reader's edition and was amazed at what a good read it was! Didn't expect it to be one of the best books I have read in a long time! I read at night and stayed awake until after 2 a.m. for three nights...I could not stop! Percy is an amazing character whom I will not soon forget! This story is not for the squeamish reader...it is so vividly real and heartbreaking! Hard to believe the brutality Percy and others both endured and inflicted. Excellent research by the author. Read this book!
February 6, 2017
PHENOMENAL!!!! Wow Nancy Peacock where have you been all my life! This was an unforgettable story, told through remarkable prose and detail. I felt like I was sitting in the cell with Persimmon as he told me his story. I will never forget this story, NOT TO BE MISSED!!! Will definitely be pushing this at the bookstore where I work!
September 19, 2014
Loved this book. Interesting twist covering the problems of slavery and native Americans in the same person's voice. Gripping story without being too graphic. I had trouble putting it down.
December 25, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Atria for this advanced reader's copy. This was a really powerful, beautifully told story that I can't wait to recommend to just about everyone.
July 21, 2017
The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson
By Nancy Peacock
Narrated By JD Jackson
Published 2017 by HighBridge, a Division of Recorded Books
12 hours and 37 minutes
I received a free audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
One of the reviews I read for this book compared it to The Kitchen House, The Help, and Whistling Past the Graveyard—all three on my all-time favorites list—so I thought I would love this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the characters. The characters are what makes southern historical fiction appealing to me. The main character of this book is Persimmon Wilson, aka Persy. The story opens with Persy awaiting his execution for the murder of his former master. It was in the jail cell that Persy asks for pen and paper to write and thus begins the telling of his story. I was intrigued with the sugar plantation in Louisiana—a setting that was new and different from the other civil war fiction I’ve read but I think the setting could have used more description. It made the listening more difficult not being able to visualize where the action was taking place. I also wasn’t sold on Persy and Chloe’s love connection.
The book was narrated by JD Jackson. I don’t think he was the right choice to tell this story. His voice didn’t fit my idea of the character and the way he told the story, almost whispering at times, was awkward and hard to understand.
By Nancy Peacock
Narrated By JD Jackson
Published 2017 by HighBridge, a Division of Recorded Books
12 hours and 37 minutes
I received a free audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
One of the reviews I read for this book compared it to The Kitchen House, The Help, and Whistling Past the Graveyard—all three on my all-time favorites list—so I thought I would love this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the characters. The characters are what makes southern historical fiction appealing to me. The main character of this book is Persimmon Wilson, aka Persy. The story opens with Persy awaiting his execution for the murder of his former master. It was in the jail cell that Persy asks for pen and paper to write and thus begins the telling of his story. I was intrigued with the sugar plantation in Louisiana—a setting that was new and different from the other civil war fiction I’ve read but I think the setting could have used more description. It made the listening more difficult not being able to visualize where the action was taking place. I also wasn’t sold on Persy and Chloe’s love connection.
The book was narrated by JD Jackson. I don’t think he was the right choice to tell this story. His voice didn’t fit my idea of the character and the way he told the story, almost whispering at times, was awkward and hard to understand.
March 1, 2017
Beautiful writing for a grim read. The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson follows slave/freedman "Persy" during a tragic time of American history: slavery, Civil War (spared most of that), and the challenges of Reconstruction Texas which sends him underground.
If all that wasn't enough, as the man who could read and write seeks the slave woman he fell in love with years ago, he confronts what it means to be disenfranchised--no matter the society--before finding accepting a life with the wild Comanches.
I rooted for Persy all through this novel and appreciated his acceptance of what he did and why--he stared unflinchingly at his life and grabbed for what he could get.
Peacock animates the story with excellent writing but while I recognized the occasional ray of hope, this was a tough book for me. Of course, any book that is a combination of Cold Mountain and Empire of the Summer Moon is going to be somber and challenging--and this one portrays itself as no less.
If all that wasn't enough, as the man who could read and write seeks the slave woman he fell in love with years ago, he confronts what it means to be disenfranchised--no matter the society--before finding accepting a life with the wild Comanches.
I rooted for Persy all through this novel and appreciated his acceptance of what he did and why--he stared unflinchingly at his life and grabbed for what he could get.
Peacock animates the story with excellent writing but while I recognized the occasional ray of hope, this was a tough book for me. Of course, any book that is a combination of Cold Mountain and Empire of the Summer Moon is going to be somber and challenging--and this one portrays itself as no less.
June 18, 2017
The plot and storyline was very interesting. I wonder how many ex-slaves assimilated with Native American tribes. I just think the author took too much details with some areas of the story and the story became too long. Probably 25% of the book could've been edited out and the book would have been great.
November 26, 2019
This was a page turner for me but I had to read it in 4 or 5 chunks, with a day or so between in order to gear up for the sadness and horror in every chapter.
April 25, 2018
A former slave tells his life story as he waits to be executed for murder. A story of love and perseverance.
February 23, 2017
This was a powerful read – it’s my first 5 star read for the year. The book starts as Persimmon Wilson sits in jail awaiting his hanging. He sets about writing his story so that, as he notes, the truth will be told because as he notes the stories being told about him are not the whole truth. He did not kidnap and rape anyone. He wants the world to know his tale – not that he for one minute believes that his words will be read or taken for the truth.
Persimmon’s first master was a woman who treated her slaves more compassionately than most. She even went so far as to to teach them to read and write – which was very dangerous. Unfortunately things did not work out there and Persimmon and all of the slaves were sold. He ended up with a man who owns a sugarcane plantation in Louisiana along with some other men and a beautiful woman. This woman, Chloe and Persimmon find a spark between them but their new master has designs on Chloe. Persy goes to the fields and Chloe to the big house where she ostensibly cares for the master’s sick wife but she is there at his beck and call. Despite this Persy and Chloe manage to see each other despite the danger.
As the Civil War looms and emancipation is in the air the master hightails it to Texas. Persy has the opportunity to escape but he won’t leave Chloe. This leads to a confrontation with the master that leaves Chloe thinking he is dead. And he nearly is but he is saved and is determined to find her even though he knows nothing more than they are in Texas. The War might have freed the slaves but folks in Texas haven’t quite accepted the reality so Persy has to be careful – he fortunately hooks up with a man who doesn’t care about his color and they head out to work a ranch. They just have to beware the Cherokee who are raiding.
Just as Persy learns where Chloe is he gets captured. At this point he about doesn’t care whether he lives or dies. He ends up becoming part of the tribe and this leads to the next chapter of his life. The one where he is the most free.
This book was riveting. I had the world’s worst time putting it down and I’m keeping it to read again. As tough as that will be because Ms. Peacock does not spare her readers when dealing with the more difficult aspects of slavery, rape, war, injustice – anything. It’s very well written and not at all gratuitous but it can be difficult to read. To understand how humans can be towards one another. These characters stay with you – they are so well developed they become real. You feel a part of their world and feel their emotions. I will note that the ending is absolutely heartbreaking. It brought tears to my eyes and it took me a while for it to stop invading my thoughts.
The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson is a book that will challenge and that will make you think. It’s well worth adding to a library.
Persimmon’s first master was a woman who treated her slaves more compassionately than most. She even went so far as to to teach them to read and write – which was very dangerous. Unfortunately things did not work out there and Persimmon and all of the slaves were sold. He ended up with a man who owns a sugarcane plantation in Louisiana along with some other men and a beautiful woman. This woman, Chloe and Persimmon find a spark between them but their new master has designs on Chloe. Persy goes to the fields and Chloe to the big house where she ostensibly cares for the master’s sick wife but she is there at his beck and call. Despite this Persy and Chloe manage to see each other despite the danger.
As the Civil War looms and emancipation is in the air the master hightails it to Texas. Persy has the opportunity to escape but he won’t leave Chloe. This leads to a confrontation with the master that leaves Chloe thinking he is dead. And he nearly is but he is saved and is determined to find her even though he knows nothing more than they are in Texas. The War might have freed the slaves but folks in Texas haven’t quite accepted the reality so Persy has to be careful – he fortunately hooks up with a man who doesn’t care about his color and they head out to work a ranch. They just have to beware the Cherokee who are raiding.
Just as Persy learns where Chloe is he gets captured. At this point he about doesn’t care whether he lives or dies. He ends up becoming part of the tribe and this leads to the next chapter of his life. The one where he is the most free.
This book was riveting. I had the world’s worst time putting it down and I’m keeping it to read again. As tough as that will be because Ms. Peacock does not spare her readers when dealing with the more difficult aspects of slavery, rape, war, injustice – anything. It’s very well written and not at all gratuitous but it can be difficult to read. To understand how humans can be towards one another. These characters stay with you – they are so well developed they become real. You feel a part of their world and feel their emotions. I will note that the ending is absolutely heartbreaking. It brought tears to my eyes and it took me a while for it to stop invading my thoughts.
The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson is a book that will challenge and that will make you think. It’s well worth adding to a library.
November 10, 2016
”The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson” by Nancy Peacock, Published by Atria Books.
Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – January 17, 2017.
If you enjoyed books like, “The Kitchen House”, “The Help”, and “Whispering Past the Graveyard”, you will surely enjoy this book.
In April of 1875, former slave and Comanche warrior Persimmon Wilson is in a jail cell waiting for his appointment with the gallows. He wants to set the record straight and begins to write the story of his life.
“Persy”, as he is called, becomes a slave on a Louisiana sugar cane plantation. He falls in love with Chloe, another slave that has caught the eye of the plantation owner. Although they profess their undying love for each other, they are unable to escape the bonds of slavery. At the close of the Civil War the plantation owner moves his slaves to Texas and Persy, who has a chance to escape, remains as he is totally committed to Chloe. In a jealous rage, the plantation owner shots Persy and leaves him for dead. Persy begins an incredible journey through Texas to find Chloe. He survives many hardships and is finally befriended by the Comanche and becomes a warrior. He believes that Chloe has died but discovers her alive and living with the plantation owner.
Look for an incredible ending that will satisfy all book lovers that enjoy fiction, romance, and mystery. I found the book almost impossible to put down.
Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – January 17, 2017.
If you enjoyed books like, “The Kitchen House”, “The Help”, and “Whispering Past the Graveyard”, you will surely enjoy this book.
In April of 1875, former slave and Comanche warrior Persimmon Wilson is in a jail cell waiting for his appointment with the gallows. He wants to set the record straight and begins to write the story of his life.
“Persy”, as he is called, becomes a slave on a Louisiana sugar cane plantation. He falls in love with Chloe, another slave that has caught the eye of the plantation owner. Although they profess their undying love for each other, they are unable to escape the bonds of slavery. At the close of the Civil War the plantation owner moves his slaves to Texas and Persy, who has a chance to escape, remains as he is totally committed to Chloe. In a jealous rage, the plantation owner shots Persy and leaves him for dead. Persy begins an incredible journey through Texas to find Chloe. He survives many hardships and is finally befriended by the Comanche and becomes a warrior. He believes that Chloe has died but discovers her alive and living with the plantation owner.
Look for an incredible ending that will satisfy all book lovers that enjoy fiction, romance, and mystery. I found the book almost impossible to put down.
January 25, 2021
The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson is an epic adventure told through the voice of one of the most magnificent characters I've ever experienced. From the first words, I was drawn into Persy's world and I stayed for the entire journey. And what a journey it was! There were so many layers and facets to this story, starting from the beginning in the cell with Persy and traveling back in time with him as he shared the epic story of his love for one woman. The love between Persy and Chloe is woven through every aspect of Persy's life. From the moment their bond is formed all the way until the last moments. Their love cannot be destroyed despite every obstacle they both face -- slavery, a violently jealous and despicable master, near-death experiences, miles and miles between them, war, escape ... it's endless what they go through to find one another again. And the entire time, I was right there with them. Drawn into the story and not wanting it to end. This is the type of book that will stay on my heart forever. I will recommend it to all of my reader friends because this is the stuff story is made of. I will definitely read all of Nancy Peacock's books.
September 23, 2013
I read this book during my day-long flight to New Orleans. It seemed a good choice for a travel book - good writing and easy reading. Upon reflection, however, I am less enthusiastic. It is a love story set in Louisiana and Texas before and after the Civil War. The main characters are a field-hand enslaved man, Persy, and a light-skinned, house enslaved woman, Chloe. The basis of the story is that their love transcends separations and even death. I guess I do not buy, or perhaps I just don’t admire the eternal love idea, and I found it became tiresome and couldn’t quite hold up through the entire novel.
I did like the portrayal of the plantation and the enslaved people’s friendships and adaptations. I did not find the portrayal of Persy’s life with the Comanches as believable – it seemed quite romanticized.
Still a worthwhile read. And the author is from my old home town,Hillsborough, North Carolina!
I did like the portrayal of the plantation and the enslaved people’s friendships and adaptations. I did not find the portrayal of Persy’s life with the Comanches as believable – it seemed quite romanticized.
Still a worthwhile read. And the author is from my old home town,Hillsborough, North Carolina!
October 6, 2017
Be prepared to see the world with new eyes after you finish this novel this extraordinary historical novel set during the Civil War and Reconstruction. The book’s first line is “I have been to hangings before, but never my own,” referring to the narrator Persimmon Wilson’s sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. Persy writes an account of his life as he awaits his fate, and it is a riveting, intelligent story filled with incredible details and insights.
I read this book in January 2017, and I'm still thinking about it not only because it's such a good book but also because it is so relevant right now. Persy's voice must be heard.
I read this book in January 2017, and I'm still thinking about it not only because it's such a good book but also because it is so relevant right now. Persy's voice must be heard.
January 30, 2018
Probably a too mean rating: really enjoyed the story telling in this novel, purchased following a holiday in the Carolinas full of tales of slavery and the civil war. The afterword makes it clear that this is not necessarily meant to be an accurate representation of historical specifics, but rather an amalgamation of various events and groups to further the tale of the eponymous central character. This, combined with the too early reveal of some of the crucial end points of the novel weakened the dramatic impact of the whole for me, but it was nevertheless a thoroughly engaging read.
July 29, 2013
With deep, memorable characters, a plot that will keep you reading, and themes that are American classics, this book is as important as it is entertaining. It will be the best book you've read in a long time.
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