Cold Mountain

Cold Mountain (1997) is a novel by Charles Frazier. It tells the story of W.P. Inman, a deserter from the Confederate Army who attempts to return home to his romantic partner, Ada. The novel won the National Book Award and was adapted into an Academy Award–winning film of the same name.

This guide refers to the 2011 Sceptre edition.

Content Warning: The source text contains discussions of racism, violence, abuse of women and children, and enslavement.

Plot Summary

W.P. Inman is recovering from battle wounds in a Confederate military hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, when he has an epiphany about the futility of the war. He writes a letter to his love, Ada, and then deserts from the army, starting his long trek back home to the town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina.

Meanwhile, in Cold Mountain, Ada has only recently moved to Black Cove farm from the city of Charleston. She grew up as the daughter of a minister; before Inman left for the war, they shared a brief but deeply intense relationship. When he deserts, Ada has a confusing vision of a man on a journey. When her father dies, Ada is quickly rendered nearly destitute by her lack of knowledge of how to run the family farm.