The German settlers of 19th century Texas arrived as pioneers on the farthest frontier. Adelsverein tells the story of Christian Steinmetz, his children and their travails as they built new lives in a beautiful, but harsh and unforgiving new land.
Adelsverein: The Gathering
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
This novel is the first of a trilogy focusing on the 1836-53 migration of German people from the Old Country to the Texas wilderness. Thousands anxiously emigrated to a new land, only to experience a frightening and often deadly sea voyage followed by hardship when they reached their destination. Disease, insects, snakes, droughts, tornadoes, famine, lame horses, outlaws, Comanches, plus shortages of ammunition and medical supplies were constant hazards. The plucky survivors built settlements and established ranches while Texas itself went through political growing pains. Showcasing Mexican firing squads to Texas Rangers, this first book gives a good historical lesson about pre-Civil War Texas. - reviewed by Phyllis Morreale-de la Garza --True West Magazine, Nov/Dec 2008
This is the first in a trilogy, the following books being The Sowing and The Harvesting. The official release date for all three is December 10th.
This is the first in a trilogy, the following books being The Sowing and The Harvesting. The official release date for all three is December 10th.
The Gathering begins in 1844 and takes the reader on an epic journey before ending in 1853.
Celia Hayes tells the tale of a family attracted to the promise of a new life in America and the joys and hardships of this journey which begins with sailing from Germany.
As well as her fictional characters Celia Hayes includes many real people and events that add credence to the historical content of this book.
Celia Hayes has a superb ability to describe the natural world that will have the reader sharing the wonder of discovery with the Steinmetz family. As well as the beauty of new found lands the reader will share the warmth of new love, the horror of a massacre, and the heartbreak of the death of loved ones - most of which are the result of disease.
For me the most memorable scenes took place on or in water. The well told sea passage; life on board the ship and the living conditions painting vivid pictures in my mind. And who could forget Magda's terror as she fights to save the child on the raft.
And then there's the well-told series of events, based on truth and real people, that lead to the peace treaty with the Penateka Comanche. In fact the Indians provide some of the most humorous situations in the story.
The Gathering, is a very easy to read story that easily draws you in and will have you eager to find out how the Steinmetz family stand up to the challenges that face them.
If you're looking for a change from reading the type of westerns I usually review here then this could be worth considering as it sure has me interested in reading the following two books to find out what happens next. --Western Fiction Review (http://westernfictionreview.blogspot.com/2008/11/adelsverein-gathering.html
Review
In the 1840's, an "aristocrat's society" or "Adelsverein" formed for the purpose of bringing German immigrants into 19th century Texas . They offered land, houses, and a freer life than most had known in the reactionary and over-populated electorates of Northern Germany . Seven thousand settlers, some farmers, some craftsmen, accepted their offer. When they arrived after a grueling sea voyage, there were no houses, little food, no protection, and few supplies. There were, however, plenty of unfriendly Comanche and suspicions. So begins the first book of a trilogy, following the Steinmetz family through the hard work, tragedy, and steep learning curve that was the lot of these immigrants to this Texas frontier. Adelsverein is a fact-filled and dramatic fictionalization of the experiences of the hardy folk who founded Friedrichsburg, and a welcome addition to the growing list of HNS reviewed regional historicals. The love story of strong-minded Magda Steinmetz and Carl "Dutch" Becker, a gun-totin' survivor of the infamous Goliad Massacre, adds a colorful thread of romantic interest. This enjoyable page turner is definitely recommended. - Juliet Waldron
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Al Past
Format:Paperback
Is there anything better than a good book? Better than a book that tells an absorbing story, that's peopled with characters you care about, living through exciting times, set among real events, and that leaves you with a better understanding as well as thoroughly entertained?
Of course there is something better: two books like that. And even better still, three. The Adelsverein Trilogy, by Celia Hayes, is such a trilogy. What The Leopard does for Italy and Gone With the Wind does for the American South, The Adelsverein Trilogy does for Texas, and does it in style.
Briefly, book one, The Gathering, recounts the adventures of the Steinmetz family as they and several other families emigrate from Germany in the 1840s to the wilds of Texas. The narrative generally follows one of the daughters, Magda Vogel, a spunky, engaging young woman, as the families endure an arduous sea voyage only to find themselves put ashore at a desolate spot on the Texas coast, to be led to an unprepared, disorganized, and underfunded German settlement area in the hill country (the "Adelsverein" of the title). On the way they happen upon a company of men under Jack Hays (later a renowned Texas Ranger), on their way to the Mexican War. Magda briefly meets one of his men, Carl "Dutch" Becker, one of the few survivors of the Goliad massacre, before her family resumes its trek to to New Braunfels. From there they travel to Friedrichsburg (modern-day Fredericksburg), and struggle to find shelter and make lives for themselves. Not to spoil things, let it simply be said that the rest of The Gathering brings the return of the wounded Carl Becker, the beginning of a business and farm for the Vogel/Steinmetz family, the wooing of Maggie by several appealing suitors, her eventual marriage, a cholera epidemic, and much more.
Book two, The Sowing, takes the family, friends, and community through the period leading up to the Civil War, then through the trying war years, to their painful conclusion.
Book three, The Harvesting, sees the once-struggling settlements becoming towns and beginning to prosper. The extended Steinmetz family moves into a number of business ventures, enjoying successes despite the occasional disaster.
Taken all together, The Adelsverein Trilogy provides a terrifically enjoyable and satisfying read. The characters come alive immediately, and as the pages fly by we get to see them grow, mature, and deal with the joys and tribulations of life. We are left with a wonderfully complete picture of an era, and unforgettable memories of the engaging and sturdy families whose type formed the backbone of this nation.
Any person who's had history in school, (and paid attention) will know the basic events of the era, but probably not how those events were received in the Texas German hill country. The great strength of the trilogy is that we experience those events not on the battlefield or in distant places, but on the home front. We all read in class of generals, strategies, marching armies and blockades and battles and dates and so forth, but it's so much more compelling to live the events through the eyes of people we like, in person. However much we know today about the Civil War, to the Steinmetz family the news was minimal and late, and there were no guarantees of anything: disaster was an ever-present possibility. Random events could (and did) upset everything at any time. No matter what, the housework had to be done; the animals and crops had to be tended, and the family had to be raised. Such is life, and such is the power of literature.
This is not to say that larger events are overlooked. The story gracefully works in encounters with Sam Houston, Jack Hays, early San Antonio, Austin, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Comanche raids, truce negotiations, agriculture, cattle drives, illnesses, 19th century medicine, the handling of firearms, race relations, business practices--the full context of daily life at the time. The author's historical accuracy is meticulous, her writing clean and true: she brings an entire era to marvelous life. If you don't know the Texas hill country, you will after you read The Adelsverein Trilogy. I thought I knew it, but the Texas hill country will never look the same to me now.
Al Past is the author of the Distant Cousin series. He is a member of the Independent Authors Guild and also writes reviews for PODBRAM.
Of course there is something better: two books like that. And even better still, three. The Adelsverein Trilogy, by Celia Hayes, is such a trilogy. What The Leopard does for Italy and Gone With the Wind does for the American South, The Adelsverein Trilogy does for Texas, and does it in style.
Briefly, book one, The Gathering, recounts the adventures of the Steinmetz family as they and several other families emigrate from Germany in the 1840s to the wilds of Texas. The narrative generally follows one of the daughters, Magda Vogel, a spunky, engaging young woman, as the families endure an arduous sea voyage only to find themselves put ashore at a desolate spot on the Texas coast, to be led to an unprepared, disorganized, and underfunded German settlement area in the hill country (the "Adelsverein" of the title). On the way they happen upon a company of men under Jack Hays (later a renowned Texas Ranger), on their way to the Mexican War. Magda briefly meets one of his men, Carl "Dutch" Becker, one of the few survivors of the Goliad massacre, before her family resumes its trek to to New Braunfels. From there they travel to Friedrichsburg (modern-day Fredericksburg), and struggle to find shelter and make lives for themselves. Not to spoil things, let it simply be said that the rest of The Gathering brings the return of the wounded Carl Becker, the beginning of a business and farm for the Vogel/Steinmetz family, the wooing of Maggie by several appealing suitors, her eventual marriage, a cholera epidemic, and much more.
Book two, The Sowing, takes the family, friends, and community through the period leading up to the Civil War, then through the trying war years, to their painful conclusion.
Book three, The Harvesting, sees the once-struggling settlements becoming towns and beginning to prosper. The extended Steinmetz family moves into a number of business ventures, enjoying successes despite the occasional disaster.
Taken all together, The Adelsverein Trilogy provides a terrifically enjoyable and satisfying read. The characters come alive immediately, and as the pages fly by we get to see them grow, mature, and deal with the joys and tribulations of life. We are left with a wonderfully complete picture of an era, and unforgettable memories of the engaging and sturdy families whose type formed the backbone of this nation.
Any person who's had history in school, (and paid attention) will know the basic events of the era, but probably not how those events were received in the Texas German hill country. The great strength of the trilogy is that we experience those events not on the battlefield or in distant places, but on the home front. We all read in class of generals, strategies, marching armies and blockades and battles and dates and so forth, but it's so much more compelling to live the events through the eyes of people we like, in person. However much we know today about the Civil War, to the Steinmetz family the news was minimal and late, and there were no guarantees of anything: disaster was an ever-present possibility. Random events could (and did) upset everything at any time. No matter what, the housework had to be done; the animals and crops had to be tended, and the family had to be raised. Such is life, and such is the power of literature.
This is not to say that larger events are overlooked. The story gracefully works in encounters with Sam Houston, Jack Hays, early San Antonio, Austin, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Comanche raids, truce negotiations, agriculture, cattle drives, illnesses, 19th century medicine, the handling of firearms, race relations, business practices--the full context of daily life at the time. The author's historical accuracy is meticulous, her writing clean and true: she brings an entire era to marvelous life. If you don't know the Texas hill country, you will after you read The Adelsverein Trilogy. I thought I knew it, but the Texas hill country will never look the same to me now.
Al Past is the author of the Distant Cousin series. He is a member of the Independent Authors Guild and also writes reviews for PODBRAM.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Book One of the Adelverein Trilogy, The Gathering, is a fact-based story of Carl Becker and Magda Steinmetz, and the hardships they and other immigrants endured to settle Texas. Specifically, the story takes place amid the settlement of Fredericksburg, Texas, when life was full of dangers from humans and animals alike, from disease and hunger and poverty. Sometimes, in fact, bears and mountain lions seem the easiest to vanquish and the more innocent.
Against this backdrop, Carl and Magda find each other, fall in love, and marry. But this is no syrupy romance; it's realistic adult caring between two people. I had a tough time putting the book down and I found myself hurrying back to it. I always wanted to find out what happened next to Carl and Magda.
A moving and touching story, and very heartwarming.
Against this backdrop, Carl and Magda find each other, fall in love, and marry. But this is no syrupy romance; it's realistic adult caring between two people. I had a tough time putting the book down and I found myself hurrying back to it. I always wanted to find out what happened next to Carl and Magda.
A moving and touching story, and very heartwarming.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
What can be better than a great, historical-fiction-based-on-fact book? Adelsverein, the Gathering is both compelling and riveting reading and the first of a trilogy based on the difficultis our pioneers had in immigrating to the Southwest. The characters are believable and appealing. As a writer of historical fiction myself, I have also written about the Adelsverein and the myriad of problems involved with the Germans settling in the Hill Country of Central Texas. Therefore, this book had a particulaqr appeal to me. I highly recommend the book to anyone with an interest in historical fiction. Actually, I recommend it even if you aren't interested in historical fiction. The Adelsverein trilogy just might spark an interest.
Ken Briden, author of A PLACE CALLED TEXAS
Ken Briden, author of A PLACE CALLED TEXAS
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
History Plus Entertaining Read
From the tragedy at Goliad to a hard life in the hill country, the author follows a typical hard-working German family. Excellent read.
Published on May 3, 2011 by Reba T. Seals
4.0 out of 5 stars
Germans in Texas
This well-written and very readable book chronicles a major development in the history of Texas and the Southwest that is sometimes overlooked. Read more
Published on November 2, 2010 by R. Williams
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old-fashioned tale lures reader on.
This is a dandy historical novel of the 1840s German settlement of the Texas Hill Country which I recommend with caveats. Read more
Published on March 30, 2010 by Dick Stanley
4.0 out of 5 stars
As neat a bit of storytelling as I have read
This is as well-crafted a historical novel as I have read, reminiscent of so many of the American settler novels beloved by readers. Read more
Published on February 24, 2009 by Nan Hawthorne
5.0 out of 5 stars
A moving story of coming to America and making one's mark, while...
When there's nothing left for you, sometimes the best option is to move on. "Adelsverein: The Gathering" is the start of the story of how seven thousand German immigrants made the... Read more
Published on October 11, 2008 by Midwest Book Review
