Donald McCaig - Rhett Butler's People Review

I ordered Rhett Butler's People a couple of weeks ago because I am a huge fan of Gone With The Wind and was eager to get some more insight into the story.  The book was billed as Rhett's side of the novel which is pretty much every GWTW fan's dream.

Unfortunately, Rhett Butler's People is a boring and depressing account of mostly new and unknown characters like Colonel Ravanel, RosemaryButler, Isiah Watling, Elizabeth Butler, Langston Butler, Tunis Bonneau, etc.  Those who truly want to know more about Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler will find themselves disgusted at the garbage that McCaig tries to pass off as a companion novel to Gone With The Wind.

I would go so far as to say that my opinion of Rhett Butler will never be the same after reading Rhett Butler's People.  The suave, unflappable mystique is shattered by details about his experiences with his father, best friends, travels, etc.  We see Rhett only at his worst and the whole thing is supplemented with loads of detailed information about the inconsequential new characters.

This book wasn't a satisfying companion story to Gone With The Wind.  In fact, I actually found myself disliking Rhett Butler as I read through this novel.  In my opinion, this is just a tacky attempt by Margaret Mitchell's estate to try to make some more money.  It is incomprehensible to me that they would have actually approved this story simply because it was written so well.