The Code of the Mountains

"The Code of the Mountains" by Charles Neville Buck is a story set in the Appalachians where a man named Newt Spooner, fresh out of prison, is consumed by the desire for payback against the person he blames for his imprisonment. This story explores themes of revenge and the struggle between tradition and change. Following his release, our central protagonist, burdened by the brand of his criminal record, has an all-consuming goal: killing Henry Falkins, whose words sent him to jail. Traveling through the landscapes toward his mountainous home, Newt deals with questions about who he is, his feelings of anger, and a growing understanding of the world, and the people within. The novel establishes a strong contrast between the thirst for vengeance and the chance for a new beginning, mirrored in the lives of Newt and those around him, including Minerva Rawlins.