Laughing Whitefish

By Robert Traver

Book Overview

Laughing Whitefish is an engrossing trail drama of ethnic hostility and the legal defense of Indian treaties. Young Lawyer William (Willy) Poe puts out a shingle in Marquette, Michigan, in 1873, hoping to meet a woman who will take him seriously. His first client, the alluring Charlotte Kawbawgam, known as Laughing Whitefish, offers an enticing challenge--a compelling case of injustice at the hands of powerful mining interests. Years earlier, Charlotte's father led the Jackson Mining Company to a lucrative iron ore strike, and he was then granted a small share in the mine, which the new owners refuse to honor. Willy is now Charlotte's sole recourse for justice. Laughing Whitefish is a gripping account of barriers between Indian people and their legal rights. These poignant conflicts are delicately wrought by the pre-eminent master of the trial thriller, the best-selling author of Anatomy of a Murder. This new edition includes a foreword by Matthew L.M. Fletcher, Director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University, that contextualizes the novel and actual decisions of the Michigan Supreme Court ruling in favor of Charlotte.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1611860148
• ISBN13: 9781611860146
• Release Date: May 2011
• Publisher: Michigan State University Press
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An unexpected joy

Robert Travers is best known for "Anatomy of a Murder" which was made into a movie, and truth be told, I thought that was the only book he'd written. I was pleased to find out that I was wrong when I stumbled across "Laughing Whitefish". Having lived in the Upper Peninsula for some time, I was taken back to those days through the writing of Travers. He never fails to create an image in your mind with his words. Additionally, the mystery and courtroom drama of this book would be a delight for anyone - even if they hadn't visited the particular locations. Travers is a joy to read, and I was happy to have found this book.