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by Leaford Blevins Jr. Blevins (Author)
The Yowani Choctaw Saga is a sweeping historical trilogy brought together in one volume, chronicling the journey of a resilient people who carried their identity and spirit across centuries of upheaval and renewal. Through a blend of meticulous research, family genealogy, and vivid storytelling, Leaford Leven Blevins Jr. preserves the true story of the Yowani Choctaw-one of the most remarkable bands in the history of Native America.
This collected edition includes three complete novels: Yowani Choctaw Exodus, William Clyde Thompson: Champion for the Yowani Choctaw, and Hank the Sycamore Soldier. Each stands on its own as a compelling work of historical fiction, yet together they form a continuous narrative of endurance, displacement, and cultural rebirth.
The saga begins with Yowani Choctaw Exodus, a powerful retelling of the tribe's forced removal from Mississippi following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Through the eyes of Margaret McCoy-a strong and visionary matriarch descended from both European and Choctaw ancestors-readers witness the heartbreak and determination of a people striving to retain their heritage while confronting the broken promises of a young nation.
In William Clyde Thompson: Champion for the Yowani Choctaw, the story advances into the late nineteenth century, where one man's courage and leadership give new voice to a community struggling for recognition and survival in Indian Territory. William Clyde's story, inspired by real figures from Choctaw and Chickasaw history, reveals how moral conviction, diplomacy, and family honor shaped the foundations of modern Oklahoma tribal life.
The final volume, Hank the Sycamore Soldier, carries the Yowani story into the era of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Through Hank Darken-a young man torn between loyalty, survival, and the call of justice-Blevins explores the intersection of faith, war, and the enduring consequences of America's divisions. The result is both a personal odyssey and a cultural reckoning that resonates with timeless relevance.
Interwoven throughout the saga are original wood-block-style illustrations, each designed by the author to capture the texture of place and memory. These striking images set the tone for every chapter, echoing the traditional craft of storytelling that has always been central to Native culture. The combination of art and prose makes The Yowani Choctaw Saga not only a literary experience but also a visual tribute to heritage and endurance.
Rooted in truth yet told with imagination and empathy, this book honors the real Yowani Choctaw families who migrated, rebuilt, and flourished despite hardship and exile. It invites readers to see American history through a Native lens-one that restores dignity, complexity, and humanity to the people who lived it.
Leaford Leven Blevins Jr., an Oklahoma architect and citizen of the Choctaw Nation, brings both scholarly rigor and personal passion to this epic work. Drawing upon generations of family history, he reconstructs the landscapes, politics, and emotional realities of Indian Territory and the American South. His writing bridges architecture, history, and storytelling to illuminate how place and identity shape one another.
The Yowani Choctaw Saga is more than a collection of novels-it is a preservation of memory. It speaks to anyone who has ever searched for belonging, fought for recognition, or sought to understand the layered truths of the American story.
