Isaiah

This book is a historical novel. It is inspired by the life of Isaiah Dorman. It has to be a historical novel

because there is virtually no information about his early life as a slave on the Louisiana plantation

where he was believed to have been born. Also, there is only sketchy information on his time

spent with the Santee Sioux, and there is only basic information about his years working with the

Army. However, all the information about the life of a slave on a cotton and rice plantation during

his lifetime has been meticulously researched as has been the life of the Santee Sioux during that

time 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 deals

with Isaiah’s life on the plantation until he ran away in his early twenties. This section explores

his early years; his relationship with his parents, peers and his attitudes about being a slave. The

period with the Santee Sioux explores his life with this tribe and his relationship with the warriors

and other members of the tribe. It also tells how he met his wife and about their life together. His

time with the Army is detailed up until the time he met his death on June 25, 1876 scouting for

General Custer at the battle of the Little Bighorn. The Aftermath deals with what transpired after

with the Sioux and African Americans in the years after the battle.