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amyschmelzer's review against another edition
3.0
Overall well written. I picked it up for June on the Range.
However, there are two things that bothered me about this 118-year-old book. Christians have a God-given edict to convert the Indians living in Ohio to Christianity. It’s acceptable for a white man to kill an Indian whose sole crime is being born Indian. I do not agree with either of those statements although I understand that they were “truths” to those living in 1870s Ohio.
One thing I did like was the author’s use of geographical place names. I recognized Coshocton as well as the Muskingum River even though their historical spellings were different.
However, there are two things that bothered me about this 118-year-old book. Christians have a God-given edict to convert the Indians living in Ohio to Christianity. It’s acceptable for a white man to kill an Indian whose sole crime is being born Indian. I do not agree with either of those statements although I understand that they were “truths” to those living in 1870s Ohio.
One thing I did like was the author’s use of geographical place names. I recognized Coshocton as well as the Muskingum River even though their historical spellings were different.
bergsteiger's review against another edition
3.0
This is a tale set sometime after the Revolutionary War in the late 18th century. It involves frontiersmen, missionaries, and natives, all clashing on the border between European settlers and American Indians. The viewpoints are perhaps somewhat stereotypical, and the characters lacking some dimension, but it was a believable read, with not all the "good guys" surviving nor all the "bad guys" getting their just reward. Only the second Zane Grey novel I've read. Like the first, it kept me engaged but was not riveting. A solid work. 3 stars.
megawhoppingcosmicbookwyrm's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
(It barely squeaked over being a 2 ⭐️.)
This was a story about settlers/pioneers meddling with indigenous people and the consequences on both sides. I liked how Zane didn’t try and make it seem like either side was evil or virtuous. His characters mostly acknowledged that the white invaders were the cause of most of the problems. I didn’t like the constant fainting of females or the attitude that Christianity was going to save the “savages”.
lgpiper's review against another edition
3.0
This is allegedly a historical novel about the opening of the "west". Only, we're at the end of the 18th century, and the "west" means whatever is west of Pittsburgh (well, Fort Pitt in those days). Apparently, some of the material comes from some papers Zane Grey found in his family's archives.
So, we begin with a group heading off down the Ohio River from Fort Pitt into the "west" to become missionaries, or famous frontiersmen. The party includes Jim and Joe Downs, Jim a missionary wanna be, and Joe a frontiersman wanna be. We also have Nell and Kate Wells who are accompanying their uncle, Mr. Wells, who is a missionary proper. They're heading to a village of peace set up by Moravian missionaries. The point is to civilize the "savages" by converting them into Christians and by teaching them agriculture and useful trades.
But, there are, of course, complications. There are evil "white Indians", most notably Simon Girty. They are depraved white men who live with the Indians and who try to stir up trouble, and of course, steal and traffic white women when they can.
Well, I'll stop here. It was a mildly interesting story, albeit hideously racist. No crap, the Indians (Native Americans in modern parlance) say things like, "Ugh!" Also, we're told more than once that the only good Indian is a dead one. Interestingly, there is an admission buried away to the effect that one of the reasons the Indians are somewhat restive is because the white men have come and stolen their lands. An interesting admission for a book written more than a hundred years ago when we were all over manifest destiny and such.
So, we begin with a group heading off down the Ohio River from Fort Pitt into the "west" to become missionaries, or famous frontiersmen. The party includes Jim and Joe Downs, Jim a missionary wanna be, and Joe a frontiersman wanna be. We also have Nell and Kate Wells who are accompanying their uncle, Mr. Wells, who is a missionary proper. They're heading to a village of peace set up by Moravian missionaries. The point is to civilize the "savages" by converting them into Christians and by teaching them agriculture and useful trades.
But, there are, of course, complications. There are evil "white Indians", most notably Simon Girty. They are depraved white men who live with the Indians and who try to stir up trouble, and of course, steal and traffic white women when they can.
Well, I'll stop here. It was a mildly interesting story, albeit hideously racist. No crap, the Indians (Native Americans in modern parlance) say things like, "Ugh!" Also, we're told more than once that the only good Indian is a dead one. Interestingly, there is an admission buried away to the effect that one of the reasons the Indians are somewhat restive is because the white men have come and stolen their lands. An interesting admission for a book written more than a hundred years ago when we were all over manifest destiny and such.
el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
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