"The News of the World" is a historical novel by Paulette Jiles, set in the post-Civil War United States. The story follows Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a traveling news reader who shares stories from around the world to audiences in small towns. His journey takes a turn when he is tasked with delivering a young German girl, Johanna, who has been captured by Native Americans back to her family. As they travel together, Kidd and Johanna face various challenges, including harsh landscapes and hostile encounters. Their relationship evolves from one of mutual distrust to a deep bond, highlighting themes of connection, resilience, and the power of storytelling in a divided nation.