5 comments about Few Acres of Snow: The Saga of the French and Indian Wars.

1. I have read many books on the French and Indian war, by far I find that Francis Parkman is the "Godfather" of that time period but I stumbled across a copy of "A Few Acres of Snow" by Robert Leckie and couldn't put it down. He covers the settling of Canada and the colonies and gives you insight into what was happening in Europe at the same time. It's a must read for those who enjoy the history of the French and Indian war.



2. I enjoyed this book tremendously, and was surprised by the poor reviews found here. North American history from 1600-1800 is a serious interest of mine, and I've read widely on the subject. This book is the best general overview of the era I've found, written by a someone who tells a good story. I appreciate how he links European and American history and explains how goals in Europe affected events in North America. It's quirky, opinionated and inaccurate in places, but it's never dull.



3. Leckie deserves credit for tackling the "saga" of the French and Indian Wars from a long historical and geographic perspective: his tale starts with Columbus' arrival in the New World, and includes plenty of information on goings-on in Europe (monarchic skullduggery, in particular) and how these events spilled over into French and British North America. Leckie also writes with a keen sense of drama, keeping the pages turning quickly in many parts. However- the book is terribly edited: in some instances, entire paragraphs are repeated in different parts of the narrative. Speaking of narrative, Leckie often loses a coherent chronological thread in a jumble of digressions and anecdotes. Leckie's strong opinions- which he is quite up-front about- render his version of events unreliable at best, particularly since he provides no footnotes, no discussion of the sources that he's drawing on, and a very brief bibliography that doesn't contain any materials written before the mid 19th century. I'm glad I had sufficient background knowledge to be able to take Leckie's conclusions with a grain of salt. I wish someone else had written- and edited- this book.



4. This is not Robert Leckie at his best. Having said that, it is still a very readable account of the conflict which set the stage for the Revolution that followed. Leckie goes in to detail not only about the combats but also includes the political machinations which brought on the struggle.
   If this period of American History intrigues you, this book should be high on your list.



5. I have read several books from this author, and most were ok. Not great, but ok. This work is an absolute waste of time to read. The basics like paragraph construction and complete sentences are absent from this work. This makes it difficult to read. There is no real organization or logic in how he presents the material, and since he only cites his own works and secondary sources, it is not a wonder that there are so many factual errors. Just as an example, on page 52 he is describing how a flintlock works - and it is completely wrong. He confuses the term firelock with flintlock and wheel-lock (both flintlock and wheel-lock ARE firelocks), and his discussion on the mechanics of how the weapon actually discharges shows ignorance to basic firearms knowledge at best. According to him, on a flintlock "...a small piece of flint struck a steel frizzen or hammer.." with some sparks flying through a touch-hole to ignite a firing pan , igniting the main charge. Of course the informed reader will realize that the hammer holds the flint, and the flint striking the frizzen ignites the firing pan, the resulting fire passing through the touch-hole and into the barrel breach, thus igniting the main charge. If you cannot even understand how a weapon as simple as a flint-lock musket works, I guess it should not be surprizing that his grasp of the tactics used, and the political climate of the time, is devoid of anything aproaching reality.
   
   In the end, any historical work that is not firmly based on sound research in primary sources, and accurate / factual information about the technology of warfare and the tactics of the period, is doomed to fill landfills at best and spread misinformation at worst.

No comments about The border wars of New England, commonly called King William's and Queen Anne's wars.

No comments about Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars, 1690-1760.

1 comments about The Colonial Wars: Clashes in the Wilderness (First Book).

1. My seven-year-old LOVED reading this book! He enjoys reading about history, and the balance of text with interesting illustrations and maps really got him engaged.

2 comments about Captive Histories: English, French, And Native Narratives of the 1704 Deerfield Raid (Native Americans of the Northeast).

1. The story of Deerfield continues with this outstanding copulatiion of original letters written by the captives.Many of these letters have yet to be published until now.This author team brings the reader closer to the 1704 raid than ever before,as we become caught up in the emotions of the captive person. As with their first book "Captors and Captives" they intertwine all three cultures so we see how complex those times were.I hope this collaboration continues with more research on the subject,for it brings us closer to our New England past.



2. In 1704, a French and Indian coalition raided the frontier village of Deerfield, Massachusetts, destroying property, killing 50 of the inhabitants, and kidnapping 112. Forced to march in the dead of winter to Canada, many of the captives died along the way. Many survived, however, and later printed narratives of their ordeals. The most famous victims of this raid were members of the Williams family, and much has been written about them in subsequent centuries. In Captive Histories, Sweeney and Haefeli have gathered primary documents pertaining to the Williams survivors and those less famous. The difference in this book is the inclusion of multiple perspectives, including the Abenaki and Mohawk stories that have been passed from generation to generation via oral tradition. Letters, military reports, oral narratives,and memoires are collated and evaluated in such a way as to compare and contrast the English, French, and Native American points of view, and assess belief systems, traditions, the the reliability of the evidence. Captive Histories does not read like a historical novel; it is an important and valuable piece of research and socio/political/cultural commentary on one of colonial New England's most notorious events.

2 comments about Queen Anne's War (The American Adventure #5).

1. Will's brother-in-law goes off to fight in war against the French, and Will doesn't know why his best friend at school turns against him. This book kept my interest the whole way through!



2. This is the fifth book in The American Adventure series. This series tells about the lives of children from many generations of a fictional family throughout American history, from the settling of Plymouth by the Pilgrims through the end of World War II.
   
   Eleven-year-old Will Smith lives in Boston with his family in the year 1710. He is a typical boy in that he is bothered by his younger sister and longs for adventure in his life. Queen Anne's War began seven years ago, and still has not ended. Still, life for those in Boston is much the same, until plans begin for a military expedition against the French. Will wishes he was old enough to fight, and admires his brother-in-law, Rob - the husband of his older sister, Mary - who has joined the army. Meanwhile, Will gets into trouble at school, as he is blamed for pranks he didn't have anything to do with.
   
   Young readers who enjoy historical fiction will most likely enjoy this book, although it would probably appeal more to boys than girls. I look forward to reading other books in this series, as they are all about boys and girls from the same family, and I enjoy continuing stories.

3 comments about Captors And Captives: The 1704 French And Indian Raid on Deerfield (Native Americans of the Northeast: Culture, History, & the Contemporary).

1. This books breaks down to what leads up to the most infamous destruction of a town during any of the four French/Indian wars.Very well researched and layed out to make you part of the history thats happening.A play-by-play of the actual attack with excellent reference charts as back-up info as the saga unfolds.I can't say enough about this book,definitely not dry history in any sense.If your a colonial military history buff or a student of the French and Indian wars than this is the one to read.



2. Any collection strong in Native American or early American history should make Captors And Captives: The 1704 French And Indian Raid On Deerfield a collection acquisition: explores the raid from different viewpoints of the raiders, both French-Canadian and Native American, and the Deerfield villages alike, showing the confrontational and friendly relationships between diverse groups of the times. In using the individual experience to provide history and social and cultural insights, Captors And Captives provides an outstanding social coverage.



3. This work skillfully profiles the 1704 raid on Deerfield in sections entitled `Creating Communities,' `The Raid,' `Negotiating Empires,' and `Preserving Communities.' The authors examine assailants and victims in depth to enable the reader to decide who (if anyone) was right or wrong. Formative history, the raid itself, the aftermath, and lasting political significance is admirably related.
   
   A minor criticism is the lack of a wider discussion of the English/Iroquois alliance against the French (e.g. Gabriel Druillettes and Jean Paul Godefroy's rejected mission for mutual alliance at New Haven in 1651; NY Governor Thomas Dongan's declaration of the Iroquois as English subjects in 1683, etc). The English protected and supplied a confederacy that attacked New France and her native allies (Hurons, Ottawas, Eries, Andastes, Delawares, Neutrals, Tobacco, Illinois, etc) mercilessly from 1609-1701. This was a smart move (as Philbrick points out in `Mayflower' - Mohawks were largely responsible for defeating Metacom - King Philip - 1675-6).
   
   The authors don't fully explore the routine, repeated Iroquois assaults involving French families whose members fought at Deerfield (Pierre Boucher and 40 other colonists held off 600 Iroquois at Trois-Rivières in 1653; the previous year the town was devastated by the massacre of it's governor and 21 other habitants. Joseph François Hertel de LaFresnière spent 1661-3 in Iroquois captivity after torture including loss of a thumb and burned limbs). Iroquois assaults on New France make the Deerfield raid look like a walk in the park. On 4 August 1689, for example, 1500 Iroquois attacked Montréal, destroying 56 farms and killing or capturing over a hundred colonists (all with English blessing). The following year Phips unsuccessfully attempted to take Québec with 2000 men and 34 ships.
   
   Another minor entertainment disappointment: the lack of a more robust description of English Imperial efforts (including Admiral Sir Hovenden Walker's leadership of the British attack fleet in 1711, and a wider view of the Mathers, whose history in Salem bears attention). These are, however, minor issues.
   
   This work is a valuable contribution well worth reading. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars: 1689-1763 (The American Story).

1. History is a lot more fun when combined with the beautiful pictures and informative, easy-to-read text in this book. We have been able to use the entire series as the foundation for our elementary history curriculum combined with other activites. I highly recommend these books to others looking for an enjoyable way to study history together.



2. This book adds some much needed background information to the lessons surrounding the revolutionary war in a colorful, fun manner. It explains the attitude of the British prior to the war.

5 comments about The Rose of York: Love & War.

1. Overly romantic depiction of Richard III, bordering on absurdity. The simplistic and unimaginative prose made it very difficult to finish this book. I felt I was reading a low-level YA novel. Both Anne and Richard suffer from one-note characterizations - they're both totally in love with each other and are sainted sufferers thwarted at every turn by politics, fate, destiny, younameit. They aren't people from history, or even comnpelling romance, but idealized archetypes of noble, slandered hero and patient, devoted sweetheart. This book is "romance" in the French ballad tradition.
   
   The author also has an unbelievably hacktacular moment at the end of the book by slightly tweaking the Sullivan Ballou letter (from Ken Burns' The Civil War documentary) and having it written by one of the characters. The author owned up to it on her website, but that it happened at all is baffling. My English professor would have slapped me silly. When I reached that part of the book, the "Ashokan Farewell" started up on my internal iPod and the mood, what there was of it, was ruined.
   
   I realize my opinion is in the minority regarding this book. If you prefer to have a more nuanced portrayal of Richard III, either read Penman's Sunne in Splendour (a still very positive Richard, yet much better-written overall in nearly every area) or Under the Hog by Patrick Carleton (Richard is guilty of his nephews' murder, but is not depicted as evil - the book is worth the search). However, if you prefer your Richard III to be a maligned woobie in shining armor, then this book fits the bill.



2. As someone who appreciates truth wherever it may be found, Sandra Worth's, The Rose of York: Love & War is a gift tied up with a ribbon.
   
   The historical Richard III, made up largely from villainous Tudor propaganda, easily falls apart if the intention is to find the real Richard. How did this loyal, loving husband, brother, father and king go down in history as a hunchbacked murderer?
   
   From the author's note: "What is not widely known is that Richard III gave us a body of laws that forms the foundation of modern Western society. His legacy includes bail, the presumption of innocence, the protections in the jury system against bribery and tainted verdicts, and Blind Justice---the concept that all men should be seen as equal in the eyes of the law. He was the first king to proclaim his laws in English, so the poor could know their rights, and the first to raise a Jew to England's knighthood.
   
   Such ideas were revolutionary in the fifteenth century. They alienated many in the nobility and the Church and played no small part in Richard's ultimate fate."
   
   Ms. Worth writes with grace and skill, engaging her readers on every page, and it's clear she's done her homework. The love between Richard and Anne, tenderly portrayed against a backdrop no one would wish to live through, won't be forgotten.
   
   The Rose of York: Love & War satisfies on every level. I highly recommend it along with the two other volumes that complete the trilogy.



3. 
   Sandra Worth's book "The Rose of York: Love and War" is a tale of faith driven by loyalty. The story is about Richard III along with his best friend and confident Anne. The reader experiences their growth from childhood to adulthood, and grows along with them, in their understanding of life before democracy and their appreciation for Richard's faith in fairness for all. This story is similar to a timeline of Richard's and Anne's interactions. For their lives cross over into each other's constantly and with each separation their love for each other grows. Within this timeline the reader gets to know Richard's brothers, their wives, their associates and their enemies, each showing their true colors, through out many hardship's and celebrations.
   I was fascinated with this book and the wealth of information I learned astounds me. This book reads as a love story, yet I feel as though I have just finished a History class. Sandra has an amazing talent of weaving historical facts with fiction, resulting into a book I did not want to put down. I would recommend this book, to anyone who would like to learn more about Richard III and what his life was like before he became King. The insanity that was dealt with during this timeframe resulted in unequal terms for all, battles, jealousy, love and loyalty. A great read!



4. This is specifically the story of Richard growing from a young boy to a knight, and a sensitive young man in love with Anne Neville, Warwick's daughter. Richard Neville, aka Warwick the Kingmaker, helped Edward reach his throne, yet the new King did not honor many of the wishes of Warwick and treated him disrespectfully. This novel gives you a sense of the instability, the emotional tension between fighting for inner beliefs and family pride vs. loyalty to the royal crown. This story defines the true meaning to the phrase "Love and War".
   The action picks up when Richard's brother, Edward IV, secretly marries Elizabeth Woodville, who was a widow from the gentry class with two boys of her own. This marriage angered Warwick and the nobles greatly. The Woodvilles were a huge family whom upon this marriage had received many honors, titles and arranged marriages for the clan, which made them even more hated by Edward's Yorkists. Some even believed Elizabeth and her mother Jacquetta were witches for the way that Edward readily responded to their requests. It is interesting to note that the first child of Edward and Elizabeth is none other than Elizabeth of York, who was married to the Lancastrian Henry VII, and from this marriage produced our beloved Henry VIII.
   When Warwick and his family of Neville's decide to rebel, Richard's chances with Anne Neville decrease. Richard is loyal to his brother the King, although makes him choose against Warwick, who was a pseudo-father to him. The book deals with the anger and resentment between the multiple clashing families and although informative it is not complete drivel. As noted, it tends to get heavy with the the names and the titles and loses some of the flow halfway through but the story is compelling enough to make you concentrate as you go on. I feel the book climaxed with the Battle of Barnet in 1471 which was so compelling it twisted my heart.
   I found the writing to be eloquent, and I found the imagery of Richard's surroundings to be well described without feeling too poetic or contrived. It really had a great flow from one chapter to the next, each beginning with its own little ominous and overshadowing quote. I very much liked this depiction of Richard III, and look forward to the rest of the series as well.



5. This a very interesting book. The fifteenth century is a little past the time I usually read about (12th and 13th century, Henry I to Richard II), but a friend of mine recommended it as it had just won the Romantic Times Magazine Award for the Best Historical Biography. It did not sound like a guy book, but I took her recommendation and read it. I liked it very much. It would be very interesting to see what Ms. Worth could do with a biography of Adeliz of Leuven.
   
   I was very impressed. The book has opened my interest in period following Richard II to Henry VIII. I can recommend the book without reservation.

5 comments about The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America.

1. John Demos is a pioneer among a newer school of social historians of the American past, focusing on family life and interpersoanl relations of ordinary people rather than deeds of the famous and/or infamous. I read this book many years ago, but I've been reminded of it by reading some accounts of the war between the English and the Wampanoags led by King Philip in 1675. The events of this story of captivity took place a full generation later, and this time the "enemies" were Catholicized Mohawks with a base of assimilation among the French in Canada. The girl whom they kidnapped, astonishingly for the Puritans and ironically for us, converted to Catholicism to marry an Indian man and chose to identify with her captors for the rest of her life. The editorial summary from the Kirkus Review is quite ample:
   
   "From an obscure and isolated event, Demos (History/Yale), a Bancroft Prize-winning historian explodes the easy oppositions between Christian and savage, Indian and white, nature and civilization--oppositions on which the narrative of colonial American history has traditionally been built. In 1704, Mohawk Indians, converted to Catholicism by Jesuit missionaries, allied with the French settlers in Canada, attacked the frontier village of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 50 of the very young and old and kidnapping 112 more. They then marched the prisoners to Canada, killing 20 more women and several children along the way as acts of mercy, including the wife and infant son of John Williams, a Puritan minister and a prize hostage. While he and his surviving sons were ultimately released, his daughter, Eunice, who was seven at the time of her capture, remained with her captors, converted to Catholicism, and at the age of 16 married an Indian, with whose people she chose to spend the rest of her life. Among Demos's narrative achievements is his representation of the religious, cultural, political, economic, and psychological orientations that collided in this episode, the web of fears, justifications, and powers revealed in the process of encounter: the Puritan fear of the wilderness, the English fear of the French, the Jesuit missionary fever, the French-Canadian greed, the Indian interpretation of Christianity, and the arrogance with which Puritans interpreted a massacre as an expression of God's will, of redemption and resurrection. This thought-provoking study explores the multiple communities to which apparently simple people belonged and how their domestic lives were overtaken by political events. Fascinating, lively, and especially timely to an age struggling to understand the implications of its own cross-cultural encounters. -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.



2. This is an insightful and educational book about the early Puritan society as they struggle for identity in America. Their biggest obstacles include French Catholics and Native Americans. While this book has a place on scholarly bookshelves, it is not my cup of tea.



3. A marvelous tour de force. Using the story of one family seeking to find a way to return a captive daughter, Demos manages to provide one of the best -- perhaps the best -- understanding of 18th century New England. Even in the death of the "unredeemed captive" at the age of 89, there is clear insight into the 3 cultures that were so much in conflict, English, French and Native America.
   
   The story drags at times, but hurry on. The overal result is a masterpiece.



4. John Demos has created a very approachable and unusual narrative of dramatic events on the New England frontier in the early 1700's. The experiences of the Deerfield, MA residents who are captured by raiding natives are remarkable enough. The fact that some, such as the Rev. Williams' daughter Eunice, chose to cast their lot with their abductors is remarkable too, but perhaps recognizable as the modern day 'Stockholm syndrome.' What seems truly foreign, though, is the contemporary Puritan reaction to the events, especially the belief that it would be better for the captives to be killed outright, than to be held by 'papists' (i.e. Indians working with the French) a painful death being preferred to eternal damnation. The illumination of these beliefs in such a dramatic setting is more revealing than the typical early New England story settings -- the countless retellings of the first thanksgiving myths or the Salem witch trials, for example. Excellent work, Professor Demos!



5. 
   The Assumption of those who read this book is that English speaking colonists from England are bad. The family trying to get their daughter back after the mother and son was murdered by the Indians, are considered obstinate.
   How many of you would want your family kidnapped, murdered and forced to conversion by foreign nationals ? if your daughter converted to thier way of thinking, wouldnt you consider it an abduction and brain-washing?
   The English settlers get blamed for everything in the United States, most likely out of white envy and just jealousy that very few Americans can claim descent from them.
   I think the parents of the girl acted correctly at loving parents.
   Please do some reading and discover that many Indian tribes prostituted their women and so it is not Good Noble Savage versus evil White people.