Isaiah

This book is a historical novel. It is inspired by the life of Isaiah Dorman. It has to be a historical novelbecause there is virtually no information about his early life as a slave on the Louisiana plantationwhere he was believed to have been born. Also, there is only sketchy information on his timespent with the Santee Sioux, and there is only basic information about his years working with theArmy. However, all the information about the life of a slave on a cotton and rice plantation duringhis lifetime has been meticulously researched as has been the life of the Santee Sioux during thattime period. The historical events are also factual and well researched. The book is written in three parts: The Slaves, The Sioux, and The Soldiers. The Slave portion dealswith Isaiah's life on the plantation until he ran away in his early twenties. This section exploreshis early years; his relationship with his parents, peers and his attitudes about being a slave. Theperiod with the Santee Sioux explores his life with this tribe and his relationship with the warriorsand other members of the tribe. It also tells how he met his wife and about their life together. Histime with the Army is detailed up until the time he met his death on June 25, 1876 scouting forGeneral Custer at the battle of the Little Bighorn. The Aftermath deals with what transpired afterwith the Sioux and African Americans in the years after the battle.