Charles Frazier (1950 – )

His first novel, Cold Mountain (Atlantic Monthly Press. 1997) traces the journey of Inman, a deserter from the Confederate army near the end of the American Civil War. The work is rich in the culture and sensibilities of the North Carolina mountains and was based on local history and stories handed down from Frazier's great-great-grandfather.

The novel won the 1997 National Book Award and was was adapted to film by Anthony Minghella in the 2003 production Cold Mountain.