Kenneth Roberts (1) (1885–1957)

Oof, I did not consider that I may have reason to remove an author from my devour list, which admittedly, seems quite short-sighted of me... but Roberts' physical descriptions of the black inhabitants of Haiti almost stopped me from continuing the history lesson. I am shocked I missed this racism in the works I've already absorbed. Yet, I am itching to read a biography of Toussaint: "we have no other resources than destruction and fire. Bear in mind that the soil bathed with our sweat must not furnish our enemies with the smallest sustenance. Tear up the roads with shot; throw corpses and horses into all springs and wells; burn and annihilate everything in order that those who have come to reduce us to slavery may have before their eyes the image of that hell which they deserve."

I suppose most humans only partially see the light. I'm still deciding on whether or not I'll pursue Roberts to shed any more: "the pages of history are sprinkled with dolts, idiots, drunkards maintained in the highest offices -- mediocrities whose stubbornness has sacrificed armies, whose blindness has destroyed navies, whose bad judgement has ruined their countries' prestige, starves helpless people by the million, wrecked cities, toppled arts, civilization, learning and understanding in the dust -- and most of these fools' names hold unsullied place in the lying annals of their respective nations."… (meer)

Arundel by Kenneth Roberts was originally published in 1930. It tells of the early days of the American Revolution and of Benedict Arnold’s doomed march on Quebec in 1775. It is also the story of Steven Nason, a Maine colonist whose desire to reach Quebec is greater than most as he dreams of reuniting with Mary, a young girl who was kidnapped by a Frenchman and a group of Indians a number of years ago. As children Steven and Mary had promised each other that they would marry, and although a number of years has passed and Mary now goes by the name of Marie de Sabrevois, he still vows to bring Mary home.

The author paints a vivid picture of the conditions that existed in the American colonies, the characters, both real and fictional, that decide to fight for their freedom from the British and the various Native Americans that helped or hindered their cause. There is plenty of action as the expedition travels through rugged forest and paddles the rivers and lakes of the American wilderness.

Arundel is an epic tale of war, revenge, romance and friendship. The prime source of research material that the author used were the journals of Benedict Arnold’s soldiers and the reader is rewarded with a stirring story as well as a plethora of historical facts, from the clothing they wore to the food they ate, to the political thinking of the day. The only drawback for modern readers could be that the language is rather dated and being true to it’s time, both women and Native Americans are not always presented in the best light.… (meer)