Book Review Brothers Brown

 BOOK REVIEW 

Author R. G. Stanford undertook a personal genealogical search looking for her extended family, which she had never known. Finding her paternal grandmother's birth certificate, December 27, 1894, was an unexpected discovery, sending her on a continued journey through Federal Census records, National Archives documents, newspaper articles, court records, and cemetery visits to learn more about her family and unravel some mysteries that evolved along the way. One of the author's biggest surprises was the discovery of her Choctaw heritage,  which she was not previously aware of. After 20 years of genealogical research, Stanford came to realize she was the keeper of a family story. And so Stanford's debut novel, "The Brothers Brown," a family saga, part one, evolved. Most of the main events are true, while some characters and events are entirely fictional. My interest was piqued, and I was hooked by the book's introduction. I took a deep dive and stepped back into 1890s Indian Territory.

Stanford brings her family's past to life with vivid descriptions of the landscape and the 1890s time period. She skillfully uses dialogue to develop characters with motivations, emotions, fears, and flaws that drive them to behave in ways relevant to the time period, through actions that are consistent with their personalities. There was no shortage of action in this historical fiction. I became so engrossed in the storyline that pages just flew by.

The story follows the Brown family and its four Brown brothers, beginning in Tennessee, then moving to Missouri, Texas, and finally ending in Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. The Brown Boys were raised in a tight-knit family with parents who were loving, civic-minded, and entrepreneurial in spirit. Family loyalty ran deep in their family. The two oldest brothers, Robert and Matt, were idolized by the younger brothers, Albert and Junor. From a young age, the mischievous brothers had romanticized aspirations of becoming outlaws. Robert, who was a smooth-talking charmer, taught Matt to live hard and win big. Matt and Robert both are drawn to a life of high stakes and deception, disregarding the consequences of their actions. Whiskey and cards became their downfall. Milla of Choctaw heritage added a new dimension to the storyline with her inner strength and family devotion. Redemption was a theme in the story, though not always attainable.  

At the end of the story, I found the door ajar, leading to part two. It was here I began to ponder what I hoped might come next. The novel is an excellent example of historical fiction, creating an immersive and believable portrayal of the past.

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raised on the beaches of South Texas, R.G. Stanford has always been drawn to stories that transcend time. That passion was ignited in 1976 with the discovery of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and deepened with The Feast of All Saints just a few years later. Though historical fiction wasn’t an immediate calling, a personal journey into genealogy changed everything.

With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.

Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a teller of stories, now living near Orlando.