"Where the Broken Heart Still Beats" is a historical novel written by Carolyn Meyer. The book was published in 1992 and is a fictionalized account of the life of Cynthia Ann Parker, a real historical figure who was captured by Comanche Indians as a child and later became the mother of the famous Comanche chief Quanah Parker.
The novel is set in the mid-19th century, during a period of conflict between Native American tribes and European settlers in the American West. The story begins with the capture of Cynthia Ann Parker, a nine-year-old girl of European descent, by a Comanche raiding party. She is taken from her family and raised as a Comanche, eventually marrying a Comanche warrior and giving birth to Quanah.
The novel explores Cynthia Ann's experiences as she adapts to Comanche culture and becomes fully integrated into the tribe. It also delves into her longing for her original family and her struggles to reconcile her two identities.
As the story unfolds, readers witness the clash of cultures and the challenges faced by Cynthia Ann as she is eventually "rescued" by Texas Rangers and returned to her white family, despite her deep ties to the Comanche people and her love for her husband and children.
"Where the Broken Heart Still Beats" is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and cultural conflict. It provides a fictionalized but historically informed account of a real-life individual whose life was profoundly affected by the turbulent events of the American frontier. The novel sheds light on the complexities and tragedies of this period in American history and raises questions about the concept of home and where one's heart truly belongs.
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