"In the Clouds" by Charles Egbert Craddock is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story introduces us to the lives of two herders, Ben Doaks and Mink Lorey, who navigate the desolate yet breathtaking landscape of the Great Smoky Mountains. The narrative sets up an exploration of their daily lives, punctuated by moments of absurdity, interpersonal tensions, and an undercurrent of the supernatural, particularly surrounding the mysterious figure knownas the Herder from Thunderhead. The opening of the novel immerses the reader in the lonesome beauty of Piomingo Bald, where Ben Doaks often reflects on the ominous presence of the peak Thunderhead. Mink, his companion, struggles with the isolation and monotony of their environment, often engaging in mischievous antics, showcasing his restless spirit. Their conversations reveal not only their personalities but also hints of local legends regarding a spectral herder and the unknown forces that govern their lives. As they confront both the physical and metaphysical challenges of their world, the relationship between the two herders, coupled with the looming threat of the supernatural, lays the groundwork for a story rich in character development and atmospheric tension. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 78.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Credits
Peter Becker and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)