Julia Du Val

Julia Du Val's older brother, Edward, a Federal Agent to the Cherokee, and Captain Pierce Mason Butler, a handsome soldier from South Carolina, introduce her to the strange beauty of the vast prairie, and she thrills at the exotic sights of the Indian villages. Nevertheless, the rigors of everyday life and the expectations of her brothers that she maintain the decorum of a proper lady constantly disturb her equanimity. Julia seeks the help of a Cherokee girl, Walela, with her everyday chores. The two young women form a subtle bond, while Edward finds himself enchanted with the Indian girl. While Edward struggles with his powerful feelings for Walela, whose life is so different from his own, Julia must come to terms with her feelings for a military man and the hard life he offers her. Within this one family, one sees the difficult choices the U.S. government had to make with regard to Native Americans.

Nelda Hirsh lives in New York City and Boulder, Colorado with her husband. After a career in human resources at a biotech company in Boulder, she turned to what she most loves to do--historical research and writing. Choosing subjects of special interest to her, she has written two historical novels and a biography/art history book about a woman artist in California around the turn of the last century. The books are meticulously researched and vividly bring to life historical figures.AUTHOR HOME: New York, NY and Boulder, CO OTHER BOOKS BY AUTHOR: The Royal Huguenot, Henri IV of France A Bohemian Life, M. Evelyn McCormick (1862-1948), American Impressionist