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Magic Words

Front Cover
29 Reviews
Pegasus Publications, 2012 - Fiction - 400 pages

Young Jewish immigrant Julius comes of age surrounded by the wild world of 1867 Nebraska. He befriends the mysterious Prophet John, who saves his life when the two are captured by the Ponca Indian tribe. Living as a slave, Julius meets the noble chief Standing Bear and his young daughter,Prairie Flower, with whom he falls in love. Becoming the tribe's interpreter—its “speaker”—his life seems safe and settled.

But Julius has reckoned without the arrival of his older cousin, Alexander—who, as the Great Herrmann, is the most famous young magician in America. Nor does he suspect the ultimate consequences of Alex's affair with Lady-Jane Little Feather, a glamorous—and murderous—prostitute destined to become the most scandalous woman on two continents.

Filled with adventure, humor, and colorful characters, Magic Words is a riveting adventure about the nature of prejudice,the horror of genocide, and a courageous young man who straddles two worlds to fight for love and freedom.

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Kolpan's writing is easy to read. - Goodreads
The plot line, however, is sometimes hard to follow. - Goodreads
The ending becomes rather soap opera like. - Goodreads

Review: Magic Words: The Tale of a Jewish Boy-Interpreter, the World's Most Estimable Magician, a Murderous Harlot, and America's Greatest Indian Chief

User Review - Goodreads

Right at the start, there is an amazing image of an indian on horseback wearing warpaint and feathers riding into a little midwestern town, and I felt transported and I was in awe. It's hard to write ...

Review: Magic Words: The Tale of a Jewish Boy-Interpreter, the World's Most Estimable Magician, a Murderous Harlot, and America's Greatest Indian Chief

User Review - Goodreads

Interesting characters and I'm a sucker for anything with magic but the plot lacked focus. The assorted narratives came together with a fizzle instead of a bang.

All 27 reviews »

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About the author (2012)

Gerald Kolpan, author of Etta (2009), previously was a contributor to NPRrsquo;s All Things Considered and for twenty years was the Emmy award-winning features reporter for Phillyrsquo;s WXTFndash;TV. He lives in Philadelphia.

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