Helpful Score: 1
This book is a great read. It is full of memorable characters both historical and fictional.
Historical fiction based on the life of Robert Rogers, whose most famous for leading Rogers Rangers in the fight against the French & Indians in that war. Enjoyable reading for anyone intrested in events of that time.
GREAT story and fast read!
The book is broken into three parts and conveys the adventures, misfortunes and success of Langdon Towne and his relationship with Major Robert Rogers.
Set during the French and Indian Wars it's a coming of age story as much as an adventure story. A great reminder of what makes Americans unique and lovers of independence.
The book is broken into three parts and conveys the adventures, misfortunes and success of Langdon Towne and his relationship with Major Robert Rogers.
Set during the French and Indian Wars it's a coming of age story as much as an adventure story. A great reminder of what makes Americans unique and lovers of independence.
The first part of this novel is about Rogers' Rangers and their 1759 raid on St. Francis in Canada during the French and Indian War (The Seven Years War). As in Arundel and Rabble In Arms, much of it concerns the hardship of the trek north to the scene of action and the return, which happens to be more arduous even that Arnold's marches. Part two begins in England, whence the narrator has removed himself. The reader might wonder if this is Dickens' Oliver Twist, or The Old Curiosity Shop. But, soon it shifts back to America as Rogers begins his quest for an overland route to the Northwest Passage. Now it is tedium at its best and could even be mistaken for Parkman's The Oregon Trail, although it does lack the wanton destruction of buffalo to be found in Parkman. In between the parts, the Revolutionary War is lightly touched upon. Thus, one could read Part One, followed by Arundel and Rabble In Arms, then Part Two. Somewhere, if you can find it, Oliver Wistell will fill in the gaps in the Revolution.
I first watched the movie Northwest Passage on TCM, then found the book. The ending is different between the two, but still good. The author's research into all his books are so interesting it led me to find more of Kenneth Roberts books. "Arundel" was his first and I just read it for the 2nd time, that's how good it is. Next is "Rabble in Arms" another fantastic story. If you're looking for books around the 1770's look no further, you can't beat the stories by Kenneth Roberts, my new favorite author.
