Olaf 03 | 14 Jul 2024 9:45 a.m. PST |
Are there any good historical fiction novels about the French & Indian Wars? I am aware of the Last of the Mohicans, but are there others that are good? I came across a series by Joseph Altsheler, the first ones are called The French & Indian War Novels, with the first two being The Hunters of the Hills & The Shadow of the North? I couldn't find any reviews, so curious if anyone has read these and if so what they thought. Any other options? I would also be interested in historical fiction novels on the AWI (currently reading Gideon's Revolution). |
Grattan54 ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 14 Jul 2024 9:59 a.m. PST |
The White Cockade is really good. It is an old book. Told from the French point of view. Also, a new series that is excellent Called the Long Fuse by Jason Born. There have been seven books so far. |
14Bore | 14 Jul 2024 10:10 a.m. PST |
Ì read LotM, watch the movies and skip the books, it's a literary disaster |
Ed von HesseFedora | 14 Jul 2024 10:17 a.m. PST |
"Just" the land campaigns? The Carlisle and Holbrooke series by Chris Durbin covers the entire SYW including most of the combined operations (Louisbourg, Quebec, Niagara, Havana). They are very good. chris-durbin.com |
Tlwnd28 | 14 Jul 2024 11:19 a.m. PST |
Altsheler is definitely worth the read. Also try James Trump's "Rogers Rangers" and Erick Nason's " In the Presence of Wolves". That's the first of a short series. All are full of inspiration. |
Olaf 03 | 14 Jul 2024 11:47 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I hadn't seen The Long Fuse Series, that looks interesting. I had heard of Norwest Passage but have not read it so it is good to know that it is a fun read. Looks like there are a number of books to check out. |
RittervonBek | 14 Jul 2024 12:59 p.m. PST |
Savagd Wilderness by Harold Coyle. |
Tom Molon ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 14 Jul 2024 1:20 p.m. PST |
More history, but written as a story telling narrative: the Allan Eckert series would be good. "Wilderness War" is the FIW volume, but the other 5 in the series paint a very readable narrative of the history of America from early frontiersmen all the way to Black Hawk's War of the 1830's. They're more fact, but read like good fiction novels. |
nnascati ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 14 Jul 2024 1:41 p.m. PST |
The Altsheler books are good. Northwest Passage is a must, I've probably read it three times over the years. |
rmaker | 14 Jul 2024 6:49 p.m. PST |
Be aware that the Altshelers are "boys' books" and of their period, so don't expect deep plots. That said, I loved them (and all his others) when I was in grade school. |
Bobgnar ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 14 Jul 2024 8:36 p.m. PST |
The Last of the Mohicans is an excellent book. Difficult to read but well worth the effort. After my first try, I did agree with 14Bore. Then I listened to it on Audible. I realized that it was written at a time with no movies, video, tv, etc. Every bit of imagery had to described. Moreover, I think it was written with expectation that it would be read out loud. Father reading to family by candle light. Older child reading to siblings. Remember it was written in 1826, almost 200 years ago. I have seen all the visual adaptions including graphic novels, Classics Illustrated, the various movies, and TV adaptions. The most recent film is very exciting with lots of action but gets the original plot wrong :( Cora and Uncus are the love interest because she is of mixed race so eligible to be consort of an indigenous man. Also the target of Magua. While Cora is serious, intelligent, and calm in the face of danger, her younger sister is cheerful, playful, frail, and charming and the love interest of Major Heyward. Hawkeye has no romantic interest in either. Col. Monroe does not die in the book. Cora and Uncas do die. Not Alice. The book also has many interesting side plots such a Hawkeye dressing up a bear, and Heyward as a French doctor. So much more, I could barely take a break from listening. 17 hours of listening pleasure. The book deals with just a snippet of the period, but very student of the French and "Indian" war should read it. The BBC series of 8 episodes is the best version but only available in British format. Lucky for me, my wife bought a player so she could watch Coronation Street:) |
ZULUPAUL ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 15 Jul 2024 4:19 a.m. PST |
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FilsduPoitou | 15 Jul 2024 7:48 a.m. PST |
The Gold-Laced Coat: A Tale of Old Niagara by Helen Fuller Orton. Set around the time of the Siege of Fort Niagara in 1758 from the French perspective. I read it when I was in elementary school given our proximity to the Fort. |
Grattan54 ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 15 Jul 2024 10:10 a.m. PST |
Didn't remember Cora dying. I didn't care for the movie as they redid or changed so much including Hawkeye's last name! |
ron skirmisher | 15 Jul 2024 5:06 p.m. PST |
The Allan Eckert books are the best to understand the period, they are history -- just written in a Novel Style, very enjoyable reads. |
huron725 ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 15 Jul 2024 7:07 p.m. PST |
Another recommendation for Eckert's books. |
miniMo ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 27 Aug 2024 10:32 p.m. PST |
I'm in full agreement with Mark Twain on Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences. |