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Please note: This article contains plot disclosures that might spoil the first-time reader's enjoyment of the novel.

Clan of the Cave Bear is a wonderful tale of survival. It begins with an earthquake that kills the Cro-Magnon parents of a little girl, who, while wandering alone, is nearly killed by a cave lion. The little girl (later named Ayla) is rescued by a clan of Neanderthals, whose dwelling was likewise destroyed by the earthquake. The clan's medicine woman takes pity on the child, and nurses her back to health.

Jean Auel wrote this first of a series back in 1986. What began as a short story as a result of her deep interest in the Paleolithic era, exploded into a half-million word novel. Unable to get her work published, she pared the book down to about 33,000 words to its best-selling and popular version. The author takes a few liberties with history. No one really knows whether our Neanderthal cousins, who were characters in the Clan of the Cave Bear, were absorbed or actually died out. On the other hand, the author displays an astonishing knowledge of period horticulture, herbs and folk medicine that lends a high degree of realism as the medicine woman uses her complex knowledge to heal a child the rest of the clan did not care much for. The child, insisted the medicine woman, was, after all, fellow human.

While human, the child is nevertheless an outsider (from a group the clan referred to as "the others"). The others are physically different (taller, fairer) and have the ability to duplicate speech patterns that Neanderthals lack. The Neanderthals, on the other hand, have highly developed "clan memory," which relies on a strict adherence to tradition and conjuring up this knowledge through a "Mog-ur."

The Mog-ur in the Clan of the Cave Bear is Creb, a deformed, but revered character, who becomes a father figure to Ayla. The novel follows the development of Ayla from a young girl into a woman. We see the traditions of this hunting and gathering clan from their taboos to their mating practices. Unfortunately for Ayla, who becomes antagonistic towards the clan leader's son, Broud, those mating practices included a right to rape women. When Ayla is raped by Broud, she becomes pregnant has a son. The child, named Durc, is considered "deformed," (of course, he is merely a mixed breed) but is accepted by the Clan.

Ayla, on the other hand is banished after Broud ultimately becomes the clan leader. Sadly, she is not allowed to take her son with her, which will haunt and sadden her throughout the remainder of her life. Nevertheless, Ayla's quest continues as she searches for her own people.

Clan of the Cave Bear, among other things, chronicles the beginning of the end of the Neanderthal branch of the human race. Their way of life was deeply traditional with a nearly mystical reliance on clan memory that ensured nothing of their ancestors was lost. Unfortunately, their way of life in the end could not adapt nor compete with "the others." As Ayla is ultimately banished from this environment, we see the seeds of change already planted with her offspring, Durc, who, as the son of Broun may have something to say about the Clan's future.

Learn more about this author, Jerry Curtis.
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