The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains

The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains

The narrative unfolds in the Great Smoky Mountains, where the lives of the inhabitants are intricately woven with the landscape and the struggles of their existence. The protagonist, Dorinda Cayce, is depicted as a strong, young woman working in the fields, embodying the spirit of the mountain folk. Her interactions with Rick Tyler, a fugitive accused of murder, reveal the complexities of love, loyalty, and the moral dilemmas faced by those living on the fringes of society. Rick, burdened by his past and the weight of his actions, grapples with his identity and the consequences of his choices. The community's response to his plight is mixed, reflecting the tension between law and personal morality. As Rick seeks refuge, the narrative explores themes of justice, redemption, and the human condition, set against the backdrop of the majestic yet unforgiving mountains. The arrival of the sheriff and his deputy introduces a sense of urgency and danger, as they pursue Rick for his alleged crimes. The community's dynamics shift as allegiances are tested, and the characters must navigate their relationships amidst the looming threat of law enforcement. Dorinda's feelings for Rick complicate her interactions with the other men in her life, particularly Amos James, who represents a more conventional path. As the story progresses, the tension escalates, culminating in a dramatic confrontation at the meeting house, where Kelsey, the preacher, finds himself at odds with the law and his own faith. His arrest serves as a turning point, highlighting the fragility of moral standing in a world where survival often trumps righteousness. The narrative ultimately questions the nature of justice and the human capacity for compassion, as characters are forced to confront their beliefs and the consequences of their actions. The Great Smoky Mountains, with their beauty and isolation, serve as both a refuge and a prison, reflecting the inner turmoil of the characters as they navigate their intertwined fates.

By Mary Noailles Murfree · First published 1905 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Regional Fiction, Historical Fiction · 15 chapters · 79,598 words

First lines

Always enwrapped in the illusory mists, always touching the evasive clouds, the peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains are like some barren ideal, that has bartered for the vague isolations of a higher atmosphere the material values of the warm world below. Upon those mighty and majestic domes no tree strikes root, no hearth is alight; humanity is an alien thing, and utility set at naught. Below, dense forests cover the massive, precipitous slopes of the range, and in the midst of the wilderness a clearing shows, here and there, and the roof of a humble log-cabin; in the valley, far, far lower still, a red spark at dusk may suggest a home, nestling in the cove. Grain grows apace in these scanty clearings, for the soil in certain favoured spots is mellow; and the weeds grow, too, and in a wet season the ploughs are fain to be active. They are of the bull-tongue variety, and are sometimes drawn by oxen. As often as otherwise they are followed by women.

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The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mary Noailles Murfree, dated 1905 CE.

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Fiction · Novel · American Literature · Regionalism · Mountain Folklore · Southern Gothic · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Family Drama · Social Commentary · Rural Life · Isolation

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More by Mary Noailles Murfree