Pinnacle of American Historical Fiction

books:

	• Arundel Kenneth Roberts Down East Books, 1995 - 496 pages average customer review:based on 30 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Pinnacle of American Historical Fiction

ARUNDEL is quite simply the finest historical novel that I have ever read.
It is also one of the finest works of American fiction, period.

Telling the little-known American Revolution episode of Benedict Arnold's raid on Quebec, the bulk of the novel concerns the harrowing journey that his men made through the frozen wilds of Maine, a story of hardship and devotion that readers will never forget. But the revelation here for readers unfamiliar with Kenneth Roberts is the prose, as sturdy and timeless as the landscape-- the old-fashioned storytelling coupled with a sober command of men's aspirations and justifications in momentous times. Roberts' dialogue is so sharp and clever that his characters never seem antiquated.

Reading this incomparably moving and exciting novel will open a world of historical fiction in Kenneth Roberts' catalog that will reward readers for a lifetime. Highest Recommendation!!

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A good story brilliantly told!

The saga of the colonial assault on British Quebec in 1775 has received precious little press. Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown have received much more publicity, which is fine; but in this novel Kenneth Roberts has tilled fallow round and raised a bountiful harvest.

The story is narrated by Steven Nason, a Maine resident with a fervent attachment to his home in Arundel. His tale begins innocently, set amidst the daily issues of the northern frontier- the French, the native Americans, and the tempestuous British colonists as they strive to hold ground in early America. Only gradually are Steven, his family, and his Indian friends drawn into the contest of nations that will in time lead to the formation of the United States.

The assault on Quebec really happened, and the story is full of brilliant cameos, including a fierce Daniel Morgan, a jaunty young Aaron Burr, and a still-untried George Washington. But the real historical hero of Arundel is Benedict Arnold, seen before his infamous betrayal of the continential cause. Here he is energetic and charismatic as he leads the first foray against the British in the New World. Steven's vision of Arnold is more generous than history usually gives that founding father, without reverting to blind hero worship- indeed, a few incidents hint at Arnold's eventual frustration with the incontinent buerocracy of his fellow leaders and his prickly sense of honor. But this future struggle fades as Steven describes the difficulties of the expedition across the wilderness of Maine, and the trial of the seige of Quebec. Roberts has done some fantastic research, so that the landscape and people that Arnold and Nason travel amidst vibrates with vivid depictions of the Height of Land, the French inhabitants of early Canada, and the rugged and beautiful Maine coastline.

Best of all, Roberts has brilliant prose, so rarely discovered today; Steven's narrative unfolds like a fireside tale on a cold winter night in Maine, calling to mind all the struggles and zeal of those early patriots who forsook home an hearth to seek a free nation. Through it all runs the shining thread of Steven's lost love, Mary, and his fast friends Cap Huff and Phoebe Marvin, who accompany Steven on his adventures. The fictional characters are vivid and lifelike, breathing color and feeling into the already thrilling journey. If you have any interest in how a wrinkle in history can become a terrific novel, this is your book.

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A moving adventure in history

This is a powerfully written, beautiful novel about friendship and adventure; about war, hard times, romantic love; and it is a glimpse into the American Revolution from a point of view that strikes me as authentic.
The book is clearly a labor of love. Like the very best of historical novels, it takes the reader to a different place, and makes us care about the people and the events from the inside.
I rate this as one of the 3 best historical novels I've read: "War and Peace" and Thomas Pynchon's "Mason & Dixon" are the other two: I can't give any book higher praise than that.

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Roberts at his Best

Wow! This book was absolutely amazing! It was so good, that I had to put it down for a while, go and do something else while I let it digest. Wonderful stuff.

After a bumpy start -with a rather mushy love scene between the 10 year old Mary Mallinson and Steven Nason- the book really gets into gear - with a real bang. Literally. A rude Frenchman and his Indian cronies shoots Mary's dad, takes the daughter, and carries her away to Canada. Steven Nason and his father follow them, hoping to reclaim the young girl, but are turned back when the boy gets a tomahawk through his head. Fortunately - for both him and the plot - he survives... but vows not to give up on his search for Mary Mallinson - even when his father gets pushed into frigid water by a maniacal priest, dies of pneumonia, and his son is obliged to take over his responsibilities.

The characterization is amazing! There's Cap Huff, Benedict Arnold, Phoebe, John the Wishy-Washy, Marie du Sabrevois - even Steven Nason himself is a complex character. If there was one fault in the book, it was Roberts' obsession with explaining over and over the day-to-day going-ons of the Maine Native Americans. After a while, I found I didn't care too much how bear meat was cooked, how loud a medicine man could howl, and the various Indian geneologies.

Besides that minor flaw - I must admit, I *do* have a short attention span - the book was excellent! Read it, I promise you'll enjoy!

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Historical Fiction well written

This tale revolves around Benedict Arnolds famous march to Quebec through the brutal Maine Wilderness.

This novel weaves a fun story of love lost and revenge attempted.

It's name comes from the name of the main characters village of Arundel south of Portland in Maine. Frankly, the novel has little to do with Arundel so I think the novel was misnamed but that is my humble opinion.

I'm under the impression that most of the history is close to accurate. Really, it's no matter. I was after a good yarn and I got it in spades in this fine book.

What I liked was that though the story deals with Arnolds march to and attack on Quebec, it seems to be a story on the periphery of those events. It has wonderful characters like flinty Aaron Burr and lovable lout Saved from Captivity Huff (better known as Cap Huff)Steven Nason the hero of our story and his employee/Business partner Phoebe the female captain of their trading sloop. Also the Native American characters like Jataqua and Natanis among many others were simply wonderful.

The way Mr Roberts paints the picture of the trek to Quebec was nothing short of masterly. My imagination trudged through this half frozen swamp of trials, tribulations and death with these brave people. Amazing experience.

I was dreading the parts about the attack on Quebec. I know what happens and thought it might bore me. It didn't. They fought but then went their own way and had there own adventure.

It really was a terrific story. I read it shortly after Eckert's Frontiersmen and found it nearly as satisfying, which is a tall order.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

This is the classic series from Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novelist Kenneth Roberts, all featuring characters from the town of Arundel, Maine. Arundel follows Steven Nason as he joins Benedict Arnold in his march to Quebec during the American Revolution.

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