Far Bright Star

Far Bright Star takes place mostly in Southern Mexico during the Mexican Revolution, but the setting changes throughout the book. Napoleon is an old soldier who has been riding horseback and fighting wars almost his whole life, most of which has been spent searching for the bandit Pancho Villa in the desolate and never-ending heat of the Mexican waste land. On his latest search he is accompanied by five American soldiers which he refers to as "green" because of their lack of skill and experience. Their names are Bandy, Preston, Stableforth, Turner and Extra Billy. Much of the beginning of the story describes the life in the deserts of Mexico and all the hardships these men endured in the scorching heat. When Napoleon spots strangers out in the distance he gathers the men and they quickly head for a canyon. However, their pursuers were quicker and soon Napoleon and his troops are trapped in the canyon and he feels that death in inevitable for them all. But before Napoleon has a change to talk his was out of an attack, Preston naively shoots the groups leader, and they are forced into battle. Bandy escapes over the canyon and disappears forever while Stableforth, Turner and Extra Billy are all shot. Both Preston and Napoleon are knocked unconscious, and when they wake, they find themselves in a strange camp where they are gruesomely beaten and Preston is strongly maimed. These savage people eventually brutally kill Preston and leave Napoleon naked and beaten in the desolate heat of the desert with only his gun and his hat. Here he thinks he is going to die and slips in and out of consciousness and craziness until his brother, Xenophon, and Apache friend, Teddy, find him and rescue him. His brother cares for him and nurses him until Napoleon realizes all he wants after all these years is to go home. He takes the long journey form Mexico to Missouri and meets people on the way to help him. He dreams that one day he will realign with his brother and together they will live a better life.

The author, Robert Olmstead, does a fantastic job with imagery. Although very gruesome and gory, the entire book was filled with descriptions that you could picture completely and you could imagine just what these men were put through. The descriptions of the torture and the pain made you feel every sunburn and sliver that they felt. Also, the characters were described so in depth that you felt you personally knew every weather-beaten mad inside and out. Symbolism was shown very prominently through the horses. Both Napoleon and his brother Xenophon loved horses and respected them more than men. Napoleon's horse was called "the Rattler" and it symbolized his own wild and untamed spirit and personality. Both he and the horse did not like others, would only lead and would not follow, are were extremely determined and courageous. This was the case for Xenophon as well, whose horse was as gentle and kind as he was. Even for the others this was apparent, such as the leader of the savage group whose rode a prestigious horse to symbolize her power and unquestioned authority. It was like the horses were an alter-ego or representation of themselves.

Although the Mexican Revolution occurred many years ago, the hardship and violence that comes with war are still the same today. Many men are faced with situations like the ones of Napoleon and must learn who they really are in time of crisis, and decide what they really want in life. Not only soldiers, but anyone who faces hard times and needs to find a solution or make a decision on what they want most, has to deal with the same questions doubts that Napoleon felt throughout the book.

I believe the moral of the story is to always remember who you are and what is most important to you. Napoleon went through a lot of struggles and hardships and faced death on more that one occasion, but he knew what he wanted and what was important to him, and he kept hi head sturdy and made it through.