Magic Words: The Tale of a Jewish Boy-Interpreter, the Frontier's Most Estimable Magician, a Murderous Harlot, and America's Greatest Indian Chief [NOOK Book]

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Overview

In a riveting novel of love and adventure, young Julius Meyer comes to the New World to find himself acting as translator for the famed Indian chief Standing Bear Young Jewish immigrant Julius comes of age surrounded by the wild world of 1867 Nebraska. He befriends the mysterious Prophet John, who saves his life when the two are captured by the Ponca Indian tribe. Living as a slave, Julius meets the noble chief Standing Bear and his young daughter, Prairie Flower, with whom he falls in love. Becoming the tribe’s interpreter—its “speaker”—his life seems safe and settled. But Julius has reckoned without the arrival of his older cousin, Alexander—who, as the Great Herrmann, is the most famous young magician in
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Overview

In a riveting novel of love and adventure, young Julius Meyer comes to the New World to find himself acting as translator for the famed Indian chief Standing Bear Young Jewish immigrant Julius comes of age surrounded by the wild world of 1867 Nebraska. He befriends the mysterious Prophet John, who saves his life when the two are captured by the Ponca Indian tribe. Living as a slave, Julius meets the noble chief Standing Bear and his young daughter, Prairie Flower, with whom he falls in love. Becoming the tribe’s interpreter—its “speaker”—his life seems safe and settled. But Julius has reckoned without the arrival of his older cousin, Alexander—who, as the Great Herrmann, is the most famous young magician in America. Nor does he suspect the ultimate consequences of Alex’s affair with Lady-Jane Little Feather, a glamorous—and murderous—prostitute destined to become the most scandalous woman on two continents.  Filled with adventure, humor, and colorful characters, Magic Words is a riveting adventure about the nature of prejudice, the horror of genocide, and a courageous young man who straddles two worlds to fight for love and freedom.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Kolpan’s ambitious second novel (after Etta) follows a family of Jewish magicians from the Wild West to the glittering theaters of Victorian London. World famous Compars “the Great” Herrmann retires, passing his act to his younger brother, Alexander, who, with cousin Julius in tow, travels around America. While out west, Julius is taken captive by the Ponca Indians and becomes the tribes’ interpreter, and Alexander meets Lady-Jane Little Feather, a notorious prostitute hiding with the Ponca after burning down an Omaha whorehouse. Alexander transforms Lady-Jane into a phony, sultry Egyptian princess, who scandalizes society. Compars resents Alexander’s changes to the show that is still in his name and plots revenge by returning as the real Great Herrmann. Kolpan’s novel rollicks along with a huge cast, colorful locales, and a jolly sense of fun. The prose is at times overly cute (“If there was safety in numbers, then the Ponca had to be the most endangered people on the Plains”) and several characters seem misjudged, notably Lady-Jane, who’s too sympathetic to comfortably fill her role as a villain. It’s a flawed but entertaining romp through the world of Victorian showmanship of particular appeal to fans of comic westerns. Agent: Kate Lee, ICM. (June 15)
Library Journal
Kidnapped in 1867 Nebraska by Ponca Indians while on a trading mission, young immigrant Julius Meyer uses his gift for languages to become the invaluable interpreter for Chief Standing Bear. Falling in love with the chief's young daughter, Prairie Flower, Julius seems to have found a place in life until he is ordered back into the white man's city to speak with politicians on behalf of the Ponca, who are to be escorted onto a new reservation. Meanwhile, his cousin Alexander Herrmann, a magician of astounding feats, comes back into Julius's life with serious consequences. Alexander, in need of an assistant, acquires the exotic Lady-Jane Little Feather, a Ponca native returned to the tribe after her life as a whore. As dangerous as she is beautiful, Lady-Jane becomes the most scandalous woman on two continents, and her enemies (including Julius) need to watch their backs. VERDICT Drawing on actual historical events and figures—Julius Meyer became a translator for many prominent Indian chiefs, and Alexander Herrmann was a famous magician—Kolpan weaves an enthralling tale of adventure featuring larger-than-life characters, without trite Western stereotypes. Readers who loved Kolpan's Etta should enjoy this new work; it will also appeal to fans of Loren D. Estleman's Westerns and Thomas Berger's Little Big Man.—Michelle Martinez, Sam Houston State Univ. Lib., Huntsville, TX

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781453249208
  • Publisher: Pegasus Books
  • Publication date: 5/1/2012
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 384
  • Sales rank: 405,913
  • File size: 712 KB

Meet the Author

Gerald Kolpan
Gerald Kolpan
Gerald Kolpan, author of Etta (2009), previously was a contributor to NPR’s All Things Considered and for twenty years was the Emmy award–winning features reporter for Philly’s WXTF-TV. He lives in Philadelphia.

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