Ride Proud, Rebel!

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23624

Title

Ride Proud, Rebel!

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the Civil War's Kentucky and Tennessee theaters, this historical adventure follows Drew Rennie, a former Confederate scout who has escaped the hatred of his Unionist grandfather. After his grandfather's death reveals a tragic family secret regarding his missing father, Drew must decide between returning to his old life or seeking his father in the West, all while navigating the dangers of guerrilla warfare and the shifting loyalties of a fractured nation.

Summary up to 500 words

In Andre Norton's *Ride Proud, Rebel!*, the narrative follows Drew Rennie, a hardened Confederate cavalry scout serving under John Hunt Morgan during the American Civil War. The story opens with Drew taking a respite in a tree house near Red Springs, Kentucky, reflecting on his tumultuous upbringing under the tyrannical rule of his grandfather, Alexander Mattock. A staunch Unionist, Mattock despised Drew for his Rebel allegiance, creating a household defined by hatred and silence. Following the raid on Harrisburg and General Nathan Bedford Forrest's daring retreat across the Tennessee River, Drew receives devastating news: his grandfather has died. A letter from his aunt, Marianna, reveals a shocking truth—Drew's father, Hunt Rennie, was not killed in the Mexican War as previously believed. Instead, Hunt was imprisoned, escaped to Texas, and married Drew's mother, Melanie, before fleeing again. Melanie eventually died of a broken heart, believing her husband dead, while Hunt survived in Arizona. Torn between the loyalty of his family, who offer him half of the Mattock estate and a chance to resume a conventional life, and his desire to know the man who raised him, Drew prepares to leave for the West. The novel explores profound themes of generational conflict, the harsh realities of war, and the search for identity and redemption in a world divided by civil strife. Through scenes of military maneuvering, such as the perilous ferrying of Forrest's command across the Tennessee River, and intimate family moments, the story captures the transition from boyhood to manhood. Drew rejects the stifling legacy of his grandfather, choosing instead to forge his own path. He acknowledges that while he may never fully reconcile with the hatred of his past, he must now seek out his father to understand his true heritage. The novel concludes with Drew deciding to ride west to Arizona, embracing the uncertainty of finding a father he barely knows, symbolizing his break from the past and his commitment to defining his own future as a free man.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23624.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg23624.epub

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Categories

• History
• Fiction