| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Hawkeye_Joe |
Posted - July 31 2003 : 8:16:29 PM
Northwest Passage ..the first half of the book is very good.. though a little wordy and not as historically correct as one would hope.. but still a damn find read. |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Two Kettles |
Posted - August 02 2003 : 01:35:32 AM
Hawk,
I agree that the first half is very good, but I think the second is, in its way, equally good. While it lacks the excitement, it has an exceptional view of 18th century London (which has rarely been depicted), and a fascinating view of a frontier fort and travels into parts of North America no English speaking white man had ever visited. And Roberts has the courage to show Rogers' downfall, not just focus on his rise as most other accounts have.
Also, by today's standards, the book may seem somewhat lacking in historical authenticity, but for its time it surpassed the straight narrative history that was available. For example, based on Nevins' terribly flawed biography of Rogers in the Caxton Club reprint of "Ponteach", historians just assumed Rogers must have been guilty of the treason charges laid against him, and gotten off on some technicality. This is because Nevins claimed the trial transcripts were lost. Roberts went to the public records office in Montreal, where the trial was held, and found the records. They clearly showed Rogers was innocent, and paved the way for Cuneo's later sympathetic analysis. Ironically, thanks to Roberts, today you can buy a copy of the court martial in any fudge or souveneir shop in Mackinaw City, MI, where Rogers' alleged treason occurred, since it was reprinted by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
Two Kettles |
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