In The Red and the White by Andrew Graybill, tells a story of loss and finding one's place in the world for those of mixed ancestry. By telling the story of the Clarke family, Graybill unlocks history that was soon forgotten. Graybill tells his story through a series of lifetimes regarding the Clarke family. He first writes about the life of Malcolm Clarke, the head of the family (Graybill 9). Then he continues the novel with the lives of some his children and grandchildren (Graybill "Clarke Family Tree"). .
Greybill first writes about Malcolm Clarke. Who was raised up to be a military leader, due to the history of military service his family had done. (Greybill 57). It was only his father's death that Malcolm was able to show face during the American and Mexican Revolution (Greybill 70), but his expulsion from West Point hindered his chances of receiving his dream of gaining a commission in the United States Army (Greybill 71). With nothing to lose Malcolm Clarke move upward to the Missouri River in 1841 and became a fur trader (Greybill 72). With his background of military knowledge, he gained social capital with many of the fur traders and trappers in the AFC with that he became one of the most powerful fur trappers in the area (Greybill 73). He then married Coth-co-co-na, which propelled his career, common among the fur trade life style (Greybill 80). (He had four children that we will soon read about later in the book.) Due to complications with a Peigan native named Owl Child, Malcolm Clarke lost his life in 1869 (Greybill 101, 103). .
Around the time of Malcolm Clarke's death Greybill continues the Clarke family story with his son, Horace Clarke (Greybill 105). With a revenge driven heart, Horace Clarke wanted to kill those who killed his father. Once the murder of Malcolm Clarke became known, it sparked the hardly known Marias Massacre in 1870 (Greybill 110), which Horace became a part of.
