By DeWana Yates Howard
Special to THE DAILY

Finally, those fascinated with the love story of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler can learn the other side of the “Gone with the Wind” saga. “Rhett Butler’s People” gives the reader insight into the man who was Scarlett’s love interest.

Having read both “Gone with the Wind” and “Scarlett,” I was pleased with the book.

The novel begins with a duel between Rhett and Shad Watling. Rhett kills Shad in the duel, fought over Belle Watling’s honor, which Rhett was defending. Belle and Rhett were best friends and he allowed people to think he was the father of her son. He kept this secret until the child’s real father died.

Rosemary

In the book you learn about Rhett’s stormy relationship with his father, Langston Butler, as well as his love for his sister, Rosemary. Rosemary was close to Rhett and often went against her father’s wishes to see him.

Rosemary was a strong woman. She lost her daughter and first husband in the Civil War. Her second husband was Andrew Ravanel, who joined the Ku Klux Klan. Rosemary and Andrew had a son, whom he ignored.

Andrew is put in prison after the war. He commits suicide, leaving a package for his first-born son: Belle Watling’s son, Taz.

Another friend who was like a brother to Rhett was Tunis Bonneau. Tunis was a free colored man who had a boat. Rhett was part owner in the boat and used it for his many travels to escape the hatefulness of his father.

Parts of the book are exactly like “Gone with the Wind” but differ from “Scarlett.” In this book, Rhett and Scarlett find each other again, but in a completely different way than in “Scarlett.”

This book was more believable about how they got back together. I highly recommend the book. Author Donald McCaig should write the rest of Rhett and Scarlett’s life so we can learn what else happened.

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