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Written by Jimmy Carter - audio book performed by Edward Herrmann - Abridged Nonfiction - 4 CASSETTES - 5.5 hours

Publisher, Simon & Schuster Audioworks (November 2003)

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The first work of fiction by a President of the United States -- a sweeping novel of the American South and the War of Independence.

In this ambitious novel, Jimmy Carter brings to life the Revolutionary War as it was fought in the Deep South. This is a saga that will change the way we think about the conflict. He reminds us that much of the fight for independence took place in that region and that it was a struggle of terrible brutality, with neighbor turned against neighbor, the Indians' support sought by both sides, no quarter asked or given. The Hornet's Nest follows a cast of characters on both sides of this violent conflict -- including some who are based on the author's ancestors.

At the heart of the story is Ethan Pratt, who in 1766 moves with his wife from Philadelphia to North Carolina and then to Georgia in 1767. On their homesteads in Georgia, Ethan and his wife form a friendship with neighbors, Kindred Morris and his wife. Through Kindred and a his young Indian friend, Ethan learns about the frontier and the Native American tribes who are being continually pressed further inland by settlers. As the eight-year war develops, Ethan and Kindred find themselves in life-and-death combat with opposing forces.

With a moving love story, vivid action, and a war fought with increasing ferocity and stealth, The Hornet's Nest is historical fiction in the tradition of major classics as The Last of the Mohicans.

About the Author: Jimmy Carter, who served as thirty-ninth President of the United States, was born in Plains, Georgia, in 1924. After leaving the White House, he and his wife, Rosalynn, founded the Atlanta-based Carter Center, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health around the world. The author of numerous books, including the bestselling memoir An Hour Before Daylight, Jimmy Carter was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

About the Performer: Edward Herrmann's numerous theater credits include Mrs. Warren's Profession (Tony Award), The Philadelphia Story, Plenty, Love Letters, and an Obie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theater. His films include Intolerable Cruelty, Welcome to Mooseport, The Aviator, The Cat's Meow, Reds, and The Purple Rose of Cairo. Mr. Herrmann received an Emmy Award for his work on The Practice, and appears regularly on Gilmore Girls, Oz, and Law and Order.