A Book by Daniel Woodrell

Woe to Live On by Ozarks-native, and perhaps one of Missouri’s most important novelists of our time, Daniel Woodrell, is the original novel that the Oscar-Winning film Ride with the Devil was based on. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, the novel follows a group of young men from the Missouri-Kansas border, an area rife with tension and violence. Woodrell’s vivid prose transports readers to a time of unrest and upheaval, where the lines between right and wrong, loyalty and betrayal, blur into a haunting gray. Be prepared if you have seen the later film, this book is not as “nice” as the remake. There is plenty of coarse language, terrible things going on, and the characters are not the near-heroes they are as in the film. For example, the very first scene in the book is the Bushwhackers murdering an immigrant family on their way to Utah for holding Union Sympathies (including children), a shocking scene that sets the tone for the novel moving forward.

“Set in the border states of Kansas and Missouri, WOE TO LIVE ON explores the nature of lawlessness and violence, friendship and loyalty, through the eyes of young recruit Jake Roedel. Where he and his fellow First Kansas Irregulars go, no one is safe, no one can be neutral. Roedel grows up fast, experiencing a brutal parody of war without standards or mercy. But as friends fall and families flee, he questions his loyalties and becomes an outsider even to those who have become outlaws.”

Readers don’t get the whole idea that the boys turned to vigilantism and guerilla fighting simply due to falling victim to a Jayhawk raid, as in the film. Removing the idea that they fell into doing bad things by pure circumstance is removed so we see a more realistic portrayal of young men that are fighting to repel enemies as some sort of boyish adventure – something far more sinister at times. The novel follows two boys, Jake Roedel and Jack Bull Chiles, two friends who find themselves swept up in the chaos of the war. Woodrell expertly crafts their friendship as a central pillar of the narrative, allowing readers to witness their growth and transformation as they navigate the complexities of their circumstances. The camaraderie and deep bond between Jake and Jack Bull provide an emotional anchor that resonates throughout the novel. War eventually takes a toll on the boys, and it no longer presents itself as the “fun boys club” they have been treating it as.

Woodrell’s portrayal of the Civil War is gritty and unflinching, capturing the brutality and futility of conflict. Through his characters, he delves into the personal toll that war takes on individuals, exploring their internal struggles, fears, and moments of resilience. The author doesn’t shy away from depicting the harrowing realities of battle and the moral compromises that are often made in its name. Some Civil War books love to treat the entire thing as a noble venture of aristocratic generals moving pieces on a chessboard of sorts, but I commend this book for returning war to what it is – senseless killing and a loss of many lives because old rich dudes are fighting for land.

In conclusion, Woe to Live On – A Novel is a haunting and evocative exploration of war’s impact on individuals and society. Daniel Woodrell’s writing shines as he delves into the complexities of loyalty, friendship, and the blurred lines of morality. It’s definitely not a book for everyone, especially if you are not a fan of reading a book from the point of view of characters that could be seen as “the bad guys”, but if you give it a chance and take some of the things that happen into a historical context, it’s very powerful. If you enjoyed the film, Ride with the Devil, this is basically an alternate take on the story, and one that will likely stay with you.