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soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
Unlike most of Grey's books, this one is set in the American Revolution in Fort Henry, West Virginia. It's an interesting twist to write a novel about the heroic adventures of your ancestors. I'm not sure if it is all fabrication or if Grey used historical documents passed on to him as inspiration. Most of the book contains "Indian fighting" with Chapter 6 also containing a treatise on the "noble" Indian and his doom brought on by the white settler and liquor.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
My mother and grandmother have always wanted me to read this book. It was fun - good old fashioned historical fiction
readingmouse's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
teperehmi's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think any more stereotypes could possibly be crammed into this book.
Typical western.
Typical western.
sean67's review against another edition
3.0
First Zane Grey novel and the first I have read as I begin the Zane Grey reading challenge with my brother.
Easy ti read historical tale. Nothing really memorable but entertaining.
#bringbackmostreadauthors
Easy ti read historical tale. Nothing really memorable but entertaining.
#bringbackmostreadauthors
claudiaswisher's review
4.0
Zane Grey's first novel, based on family lore. I have several gaping holes in my reading history, and westerns is one of the biggest. I have often asked people which Zane Grey novel I should start with, but I found this reprint in the book aisle at Target, and decided to start here.
Fort Henry, W. Virginia, one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War. White settlers IN the Fort; an assortment of Red Coats, turncoats, and Natives outside...but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Grey's style is pretty clunky here...but it was his first attempt to write. He obviously never met an adjective he didn't like, and he attempts to overwhelm us with the beauty of the place, and the ruggedness of the men, and the heroism of the women by telling us, not showing. But he gets a pass...
Ebenezer Zane and his brothers have carved their home out of this wilderness and have attempted to civilize it. Women, children, families...all share the place with Indian tribes and renegades. Zane's brothers have been kidnapped and ransomed, all except for Isaac, who has the misfortune of catching the chief's daughter's eye. While I rolled my eyes at his escapes and recaptures, there is real suspense and terror in more than one of his experiences.
But it's not the brothers who are the heroes...it's Betty. The baby. Betty who's faster and stronger and more beautiful and...and...and. Pampered and indulged, she has found a way to fit into this rough life, even when her family wishes she'd stay back in Philadelphia where it's safer.
Grey's descriptions of the 'stock' figures of our past is filled with hero-worship. The lone mountain man is strong and tall and fearless (I'm falling into adjectives myself.); the villain is beyond evil; the Natives are either noble or savage. And Betty is the coquette who will, according to the family story, save Fort Henry with her courage.
Grey handles the pacing well and creates some scenes of terror. Through it all, you can see he's telling us a story he loves, he believes.
Not really a western, tho...unless WEST Virginia counts.
I am very fuzzy on the history, so I'll fill in the gaps with some research.
From the website STORY OF FORT HENRY:
"In September, 1782, occurred the last siege of Fort Henry, regarded by some as the last battle of the Revolution. A force of forty irregular British soldiers and 238 Indians, under Captain Bradt, made the attack. Between the former siege and this one the homes of the settlers had been rebuilt, including that of Ebenezer Zane. His dwelling contained a store of surplus ammunition and arms and it had been decided to occupy it in case of another attack. Being notified of the approach of the enemy by John Lynn, a scout, preparations were speedily made for the expected attack. Those who demained within the Zane house were Andrew Scott, George Green, Elizabeth Zane (Colonel Zane's wife), Molly Scott, Miss McCulloch, a sister of Major Samuel McCulloch, a negro slave and his wife, "Daddy Sam" and Kate. From all other homes the occupants had entered the fort. Although Colonel David Shepherd was superior officer in the county it appears that Colonel Silas Zane was again in command.12
The Indians approached carrying the British flag and asked for surrender, which was refused. During the night of attack the garrison of Fort Henry was re-enforced by the arrival of a few men who had come down in a boat from Pittsburgh. They carried some cannon balls, some of which were taken and used in the real cannon which had been substituted for the wooden one, the rest being appropriated by the attackers.
The first efforts of the enemy were toward destruction of the fort by battering it in every way possible. The first day was spent in futile attempts in this direction. The Indians placed their chief reliance upon burning and during the night made many attempts to burn both the fort and Colonel Zane's house. The negro slave detected the approach of an Indian and killed him as he was about to set fire to the residence. The cannon was brought into play, firing sixteen times during the attack. Being impressed by the effectiveness of the cannon, the Indians and soldiers made one of their own out of a hollow tree which they wrapped with chains found in a blacksmith shop and loaded with the balls taken from the Pittsburgh boat. When they fired it the explosion did no damage to the fort but killed and injured several persons who stood about.
It was during the second siege that the ammunition ran low in the fort and a volunteer, Elizabeth Zane, sister of Ebenezer Zane,13 ran to the cabin and returned under fire with a supply of powder, thus doing her part toward defense, and furnishing the background for a much-repeated story of pioneer days.
At the end of three days the Indians were thoroughly discouraged and, soon after, when Captain Boggs arrived with seventy men, they gave up and turned their attention to Rice's Fort, in the vicinity, where they lost heavily again.
Thus Fort Henry not only saved a large proportion of the inhabitants of the young colony at Wheeling, but played an important, though minor, role in the closing days of the American Revolution. The Second Siege was the last formidable raid of Indians into West Virginia."
Grey got the names right...but I don't remember anything that said Betty was only 13!!
Fort Henry, W. Virginia, one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War. White settlers IN the Fort; an assortment of Red Coats, turncoats, and Natives outside...but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Grey's style is pretty clunky here...but it was his first attempt to write. He obviously never met an adjective he didn't like, and he attempts to overwhelm us with the beauty of the place, and the ruggedness of the men, and the heroism of the women by telling us, not showing. But he gets a pass...
Ebenezer Zane and his brothers have carved their home out of this wilderness and have attempted to civilize it. Women, children, families...all share the place with Indian tribes and renegades. Zane's brothers have been kidnapped and ransomed, all except for Isaac, who has the misfortune of catching the chief's daughter's eye. While I rolled my eyes at his escapes and recaptures, there is real suspense and terror in more than one of his experiences.
But it's not the brothers who are the heroes...it's Betty. The baby. Betty who's faster and stronger and more beautiful and...and...and. Pampered and indulged, she has found a way to fit into this rough life, even when her family wishes she'd stay back in Philadelphia where it's safer.
Grey's descriptions of the 'stock' figures of our past is filled with hero-worship. The lone mountain man is strong and tall and fearless (I'm falling into adjectives myself.); the villain is beyond evil; the Natives are either noble or savage. And Betty is the coquette who will, according to the family story, save Fort Henry with her courage.
Grey handles the pacing well and creates some scenes of terror. Through it all, you can see he's telling us a story he loves, he believes.
Not really a western, tho...unless WEST Virginia counts.
I am very fuzzy on the history, so I'll fill in the gaps with some research.
From the website STORY OF FORT HENRY:
"In September, 1782, occurred the last siege of Fort Henry, regarded by some as the last battle of the Revolution. A force of forty irregular British soldiers and 238 Indians, under Captain Bradt, made the attack. Between the former siege and this one the homes of the settlers had been rebuilt, including that of Ebenezer Zane. His dwelling contained a store of surplus ammunition and arms and it had been decided to occupy it in case of another attack. Being notified of the approach of the enemy by John Lynn, a scout, preparations were speedily made for the expected attack. Those who demained within the Zane house were Andrew Scott, George Green, Elizabeth Zane (Colonel Zane's wife), Molly Scott, Miss McCulloch, a sister of Major Samuel McCulloch, a negro slave and his wife, "Daddy Sam" and Kate. From all other homes the occupants had entered the fort. Although Colonel David Shepherd was superior officer in the county it appears that Colonel Silas Zane was again in command.12
The Indians approached carrying the British flag and asked for surrender, which was refused. During the night of attack the garrison of Fort Henry was re-enforced by the arrival of a few men who had come down in a boat from Pittsburgh. They carried some cannon balls, some of which were taken and used in the real cannon which had been substituted for the wooden one, the rest being appropriated by the attackers.
The first efforts of the enemy were toward destruction of the fort by battering it in every way possible. The first day was spent in futile attempts in this direction. The Indians placed their chief reliance upon burning and during the night made many attempts to burn both the fort and Colonel Zane's house. The negro slave detected the approach of an Indian and killed him as he was about to set fire to the residence. The cannon was brought into play, firing sixteen times during the attack. Being impressed by the effectiveness of the cannon, the Indians and soldiers made one of their own out of a hollow tree which they wrapped with chains found in a blacksmith shop and loaded with the balls taken from the Pittsburgh boat. When they fired it the explosion did no damage to the fort but killed and injured several persons who stood about.
It was during the second siege that the ammunition ran low in the fort and a volunteer, Elizabeth Zane, sister of Ebenezer Zane,13 ran to the cabin and returned under fire with a supply of powder, thus doing her part toward defense, and furnishing the background for a much-repeated story of pioneer days.
At the end of three days the Indians were thoroughly discouraged and, soon after, when Captain Boggs arrived with seventy men, they gave up and turned their attention to Rice's Fort, in the vicinity, where they lost heavily again.
Thus Fort Henry not only saved a large proportion of the inhabitants of the young colony at Wheeling, but played an important, though minor, role in the closing days of the American Revolution. The Second Siege was the last formidable raid of Indians into West Virginia."
Grey got the names right...but I don't remember anything that said Betty was only 13!!
skittles0313's review against another edition
4.0
ahhahah ok i reread this book and honestly have,,, wildly mixed feelings about it
like
what was ten year old me thinking anyway smh
i might actually record all my thoughts on this book at some point but that day isn't today xD
like
what was ten year old me thinking anyway smh
i might actually record all my thoughts on this book at some point but that day isn't today xD
lazyreader's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
This is an older book, published in the early 1900's. Zane Grey wrote it as a story to honor one of his ancestors, so it may not appeal to modern readers due to the writing style and language. That being said, the story is very good, if you read it as part of the history of America. There may be triggers for the general treatment of Native Americans and POC.
amythebookbat's review
4.0
Interesting look at Ohio and West Virginia history. I think I was particularly interested because I live in the area the book was set in.
rubyslippersreads's review
4.0
I'd forgotten I read this as a little girl. It might be fun to do a reread.