Marilyn and Chris Nelson discuss Red Cloud and the Indian Trader

Join us in the bookshop with authors Marilyn Nelson and Chris Nelson as we take you back to 1871 into the lives of Red Cloud and JW Dear. In the summer of 1871, JW Dear, a young Virginian who fought with Mosby’s Rangers in the Civil War, met Red Cloud, the leader of the Oglala Sioux, who at that time was the most respected Indian chief in America. For the next twelve years the two men lived alongside each other on the vast Northern Plains. This was one of the most turbulent, violent, and controversial periods in the history of the American West. This book is about two men caught up in these momentous events, and exposes what it took to live through the visionary, but brutal process of nation building.

About the Authors

Marilyn Dear Nelson was born in California and moved with her military family to army posts and embassies around the US, South America, and Europe. Her international marketing career took her to Europe, South Africa, Australia, and Hong Kong, where she met her husband, Chris. Marilyn grew up with stories, artifacts, and stereotype images from her great-grandfather's life in the Wild West. When she and Chris retired to London they started to research his extraordinary life and to translate Marilyn's hazy recollections into reality.

Chris Nelson was born near London. After university he initially worked in the UK, but most of his career was spent overseas, first in Hong Kong and then in the Middle East, where he was the CEO of multinational corporations. He has always been fascinated by American history and the opening up of the West, and Marilyn's connections provided the perfect project for them to pursue their interests.

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