Rhett Butler's People
by: Donald McCaig
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Amazon.com Review:
Margaret Mitchell's story of Scarlett O'Hara's and Rhett Butler's beguiling, twisted love for each other, set against the gruesome background of a nation torn apart by war, is by all accounts epic--so much so that it feels untouchable. Yet McCaig's take on what many would consider a sacred cow of 20th-century American literature is a worthy suitor for Mitchell's many ardent fans, for reasons that may not be altogether obvious. It would be easy to look at Gone With the Wind and Rhett Butlers People side by side and catalog what is accurate and what isn't and tally up the score. In doing so, however, the fan is apt to miss out on the best part of this whole book: Rhett Butler himself. McCaig's Rhett is thoroughly modern, both a product of his Charleston plantation and an emphatic rejection of it. He is filled with romance and ingenuity, grit and wit, and a toughness matched only by a sense of humility that evokes so gracefully the hardship and heartbreak of a society falling apart. It's not hard to love Rhett in his weakness for Scarlett's love, but it is entirely amazing to love him as he rescues Belle Watling, mentors her bright young son Tazewell, adores his sister Rosemary, dotes on dear Bonnie Blue, and defends his best friend Tunis Bonneau to the very end.
To pluck a character from a beloved book and recalibrate the story's point-of-view isn't an easy thing to do. Ultimately, the new must ring true with the old, and this is where Rhett Butlers People succeeds beyond measure. In the spirit of Mitchell's masterpiece, McCaig never questions that love--of family, lover, land, or country--is the tie that binds these characters to life, for better or worse. --Anne Bartholomew
Product Description:
Margaret Mitchell's story of Scarlett O'Hara's and Rhett Butler's beguiling, twisted love for each other, set against the gruesome background of a nation torn apart by war, is by all accounts epic--so much so that it feels untouchable. Yet McCaig's take on what many would consider a sacred cow of 20th-century American literature is a worthy suitor for Mitchell's many ardent fans, for reasons that may not be altogether obvious. It would be easy to look at Gone With the Wind and Rhett Butlers People side by side and catalog what is accurate and what isn't and tally up the score. In doing so, however, the fan is apt to miss out on the best part of this whole book: Rhett Butler himself. McCaig's Rhett is thoroughly modern, both a product of his Charleston plantation and an emphatic rejection of it. He is filled with romance and ingenuity, grit and wit, and a toughness matched only by a sense of humility that evokes so gracefully the hardship and heartbreak of a society falling apart. It's not hard to love Rhett in his weakness for Scarlett's love, but it is entirely amazing to love him as he rescues Belle Watling, mentors her bright young son Tazewell, adores his sister Rosemary, dotes on dear Bonnie Blue, and defends his best friend Tunis Bonneau to the very end.
To pluck a character from a beloved book and recalibrate the story's point-of-view isn't an easy thing to do. Ultimately, the new must ring true with the old, and this is where Rhett Butlers People succeeds beyond measure. In the spirit of Mitchell's masterpiece, McCaig never questions that love--of family, lover, land, or country--is the tie that binds these characters to life, for better or worse. --Anne Bartholomew
Product Description:
Fully authorized by the Margaret Mitchell estate, Rhett Butler’s People is the astonishing and long-awaited novel that parallels the Great American Novel, Gone With The Wind. Twelve years in the making, the publication of Rhett Butler’s People marks a major and historic cultural event.
Through the storytelling mastery of award-winning writer Donald McCaig, the life and times of the dashing Rhett Butler unfolds.Through Rhett’s eyes we meet the people who shaped his larger than life personality as it sprang from Margaret Mitchell’s unforgettable pages: Langston Butler, Rhett’s unyielding father; Rosemary his steadfast sister; Tunis Bonneau, Rhett’s best friend and a onetime slave; Belle Watling, the woman for whom Rhett cared long before he met Scarlett O’Hara at Twelve Oaks Plantation, on the fateful eve of the Civil War.
Of course there is Scarlett.Katie Scarlett O’Hara, the headstrong, passionate woman whose life is inextricably entwined with Rhett’s: more like him than she cares to admit; more in love with him than she’ll ever know…
Brought to vivid and authentic life by the hand of a master, Rhett Butler’s People fulfills the dreams of those whose imaginations have been indelibly marked by Gone With The Wind.
Through the storytelling mastery of award-winning writer Donald McCaig, the life and times of the dashing Rhett Butler unfolds.Through Rhett’s eyes we meet the people who shaped his larger than life personality as it sprang from Margaret Mitchell’s unforgettable pages: Langston Butler, Rhett’s unyielding father; Rosemary his steadfast sister; Tunis Bonneau, Rhett’s best friend and a onetime slave; Belle Watling, the woman for whom Rhett cared long before he met Scarlett O’Hara at Twelve Oaks Plantation, on the fateful eve of the Civil War.
Of course there is Scarlett.Katie Scarlett O’Hara, the headstrong, passionate woman whose life is inextricably entwined with Rhett’s: more like him than she cares to admit; more in love with him than she’ll ever know…
Brought to vivid and authentic life by the hand of a master, Rhett Butler’s People fulfills the dreams of those whose imaginations have been indelibly marked by Gone With The Wind.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A great story ifyou change the names. This is not Rhett and Scarlett's story
Just finished thebook last night. Had to force myself to finish the last third. I would have liked the book more if it had ended after the Frankly My Dear part, probably would have even given it 3.5 stars or 4.
It's hard to write and there's always going to be someone who disagrees with you. Usually I try to be agreeable. But I was disappointed here.
If the story had been a Civil War Story with different names and the Scarlett bit left out entirely, this would have been engaging in ... Read More
Rating: - Anticipation turns to disappointment
I first read Gone with the Wind at 13, and immediately fell in love with it.Rhett always intrigued me because he didn't care what others thought and I found that so refreshing.I was elated when I found out that they were writing a sequel focusing on him.Once I started reading it I was disappointed.The writing was good but what disappointed me was I couldn't get through a section of the book without having to hear about prostitutes and death.I kept reading hoping that at some point the topic ... Read More
Rating: - Fiddle dee dee - what a waste!
When I learned that the author of this book was selected by the Margaret Mitchell Estate to write this 'sequel', I had to read it.I wanted to approach it with an open mind, even though I doubted that anyone could come close enough to Margaret Mitchell's masterful characterizations (and especially Rhett) to make it as fulfilling as it sounded.
Suffice it to say that my instinct was right - Mr. McCaig did not do justice to Rhett, nor to Scarlett.The two firebrands that made GWTW a classic ... Read More
Rating: 
- Oh Rhett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had read this book when it first came out, loaned it to a friend who LOST IT!!!!!!!!!!!Since it was the best book I had written having to do with Gone With the Wind (Scarlett was a terrible disappointment), I had to buy a replacement for my library.Plan to re-read it right away!
Rating: - Realistic
Absolutely Wonderful! McCag leaves you wanting more and tells Rhett's Story with Ms. Mitchell's Story intertwined. I found myself reliving the first time I read GONE WITH THE WIND. I could not put this book down!
- A great story ifyou change the names. This is not Rhett and Scarlett's storyJust finished thebook last night. Had to force myself to finish the last third. I would have liked the book more if it had ended after the Frankly My Dear part, probably would have even given it 3.5 stars or 4.
It's hard to write and there's always going to be someone who disagrees with you. Usually I try to be agreeable. But I was disappointed here.
If the story had been a Civil War Story with different names and the Scarlett bit left out entirely, this would have been engaging in ... Read More
- Anticipation turns to disappointmentI first read Gone with the Wind at 13, and immediately fell in love with it.Rhett always intrigued me because he didn't care what others thought and I found that so refreshing.I was elated when I found out that they were writing a sequel focusing on him.Once I started reading it I was disappointed.The writing was good but what disappointed me was I couldn't get through a section of the book without having to hear about prostitutes and death.I kept reading hoping that at some point the topic ... Read More
- Fiddle dee dee - what a waste!When I learned that the author of this book was selected by the Margaret Mitchell Estate to write this 'sequel', I had to read it.I wanted to approach it with an open mind, even though I doubted that anyone could come close enough to Margaret Mitchell's masterful characterizations (and especially Rhett) to make it as fulfilling as it sounded.
Suffice it to say that my instinct was right - Mr. McCaig did not do justice to Rhett, nor to Scarlett.The two firebrands that made GWTW a classic ... Read More
- Oh Rhett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I had read this book when it first came out, loaned it to a friend who LOST IT!!!!!!!!!!!Since it was the best book I had written having to do with Gone With the Wind (Scarlett was a terrible disappointment), I had to buy a replacement for my library.Plan to re-read it right away!
- RealisticAbsolutely Wonderful! McCag leaves you wanting more and tells Rhett's Story with Ms. Mitchell's Story intertwined. I found myself reliving the first time I read GONE WITH THE WIND. I could not put this book down!
