Charles Frazier
Charles Frazier is a writer of historical fiction who has been captivating readers since the late 90s. He came onto the literary scene in 1997 with his debut novel Cold Mountain, an epic Civil War story about a young Confederate soldier who walks hundreds of miles on a personal mission for redemption. The novel not only earned Frazier a National Book Award for fiction, but it also instantly made him one of the notable writers in contemporary fiction. His work is largely set in Appalachia and explores themes of social injustice, the legacy of the American South, and the struggle of the human spirit to find its place in the world.
Frazier was born in Asheville, North Carolina and grew up in the nearby towns of Boone and Winston-Salem. He was exposed to traditional Appalachian storytelling at an early age and this undoubtedly had a profound effect on his own writing. After working as a college professor in North Carolina and Colorado, Frazier turned his attention to writing fiction. His editor at nearby publisher Bloomsbury suggested he write an historical novel and in 1997, Cold Mountain was published. Described as “a masterpiece of American historical fiction” by The Washington Post, the novel follows young Confederate soldier Inman as he travels through the hills, mountains, and hollows of the American South. His destination is the rural town of Cold Mountain, where his love Ada awaits him. With Inman’s return to his beloved home, a post-Civil War world is revealed—one filled with tension between civilians and soldiers, blacks and whites, slaves and masters.
Aside from Cold Mountain, Frazier has had great success with a few other titles, including Thirteen Moons in 2006, Nightwoods in 2011, and Varina in 2018. Thirteen Moons similarly follows an old man’s journey back to the home of his youth in the Smoky Mountains. It’s a spiritual and literary quest that allows us a glimpse into the Southern Appalachia of the 1800s. Nightwoods focuses on a reluctant young woman who takes on the care of the two orphaned children of her sister’s murderer. It’s a captivating exploration of loss, grief, and the power of love. Most recently, Varina is a story that examines the legacy of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, and his second wife, Varina.
Though not as widely acclaimed as Cold Mountain, Fraziers’s books are no less worthy of praise. As the New York Times noted in a review of Thirteen Moons, “Frazier’s writing has an epic quality, an expansive eye and the gift of lyricism.” His prose has a unique ability to capture not just a moment but a feeling, and his stories often leave readers with a sense of new perspective and greater understanding.
Frazier’s work has been praised by some of the biggest names in literature, including Richard Ford and Flannery O’Connor. Cold Mountain was awarded the National Book Award for fiction in 1997 and Thirteen Moons was a New York Times bestseller. His writing has been adapted for film and he has contributed to such publications as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Whether it’s the dark depths of the Civil War or a journey of self-reflection and discovery, Charles Frazier’s novels present readers with a unique and captivating look into the world, history, and culture of Appalachia. His work is filled with lyrical prose and is a testament to his great talent as a writer of historic fiction.
