A Daughter of Liberty (The Shannon Family Saga, Bk. 1) [Paperback]

Allan Cole (Author), Chris Bunch (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Shannon Family Saga, Bk. 1 | Publication Date: June 8, 1993

The year is 1778 and the Revolutionary War has young America trapped in the crossfire of hatred and fear. Diana, an indentured servant escapes her abusive master with the help of Emmett Shannon, a deserter from the desperate army at Valley Forge. They fall in love and marry, but their happiness is shattered and Diana Shannon must learn to survive on her own. From that moment on she will become a true woman of her times, blazing a path from lawless lands in the grips of the Revolution, to plague-stricken Philadelphia, to the burning of Washington in the War of 1812.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Here's what reviewers have said about books by Allan Cole & Chris Bunch:

"Class War Novel" (A Reckoning For Kings - SF Chronicle)

"Landmark science fiction" (The Sten Series - Publishers Weekly)

"A classic fantasy" (The Far Kingdoms - Locus Magazine)

"... A humbling, haunting experience" (Lucky In Cyprus - J.A. Locke, Bookloons.com)

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 524 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (June 8, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345362292
• ISBN-13: 978-0345362292
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,789,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ALLAN COLE is a best-selling author, screenwriter and former prize-winning newsman. The son of a CIA operative, Cole was raised in Europe and the Far East. For details see Allan's website at www.acole.com. Here's what critics have said about Cole's work: The Sten Series: Landmark science fiction -Publishers Weekly; When The Gods Slept: Page turner of the year - Locus; The Far Kingdoms Series: Glorious... Swashbuckling - Locus; A Reckoning For Kings: Classic war novel - SF Chronicle; Lucky In Cyprus - A haunting, enlightening experience - BookLoons.com; A Cop's Life: Must read by anyone with a badge - Philadelphia Fraternal Order Of Police.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Praise From Bookloons.com, November 29, 2004

By 

Allan "a. scribe" (Boca Raton, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Daughter of Liberty (The Shannon Family Saga, Bk. 1) (Paperback)

This is the review that appeared in Bookloons.com, which is quickly becoming one of the best book review sites on the web:



Reviewed by J. A. Kaszuba Locke

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allan Cole and Chris Bunch spin a significant historical saga dating from 1778 to 1814, using original sources of diaries and letters wherever possible. The story is told in a five-book format beginning in Valley Forge, and continuing to Cherry Valley, NY, to Philadelphia, PA, and Washington. The authors credit the women and minorities who played a vast role in shaping history.

Among these women is Diana Jameson, a 15-year-old indentured servant, escaping an abusive master with the assistance of Emmett Shannon. Emmett is a deserter from the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Diana and Emmett fall in love and marry en route to his family in Cherry Valley. But Emmett is mortally wounded while pursuing renegades bent on pillage and destruction. Alone, Diana continues to Cherry Valley where, with the birth of a son, she assumes leadership of the Shannon homestead, surviving the war, attacks of rebels, and vengeful Seneca Indians. Diana's natural instinct for business leads her to establish a successful inn upon the Shannon homestead. From the sale of the Cherry Valley inn, Diana resourcefully progresses to Pennsylvania with stepson Farrell and son James Emmett. Taken under the wing of Michael and Anne Walsh in the city of Philadelphia, Diana strategically establishes new business ventures.

But, her Philadelphia success is not without pain. Hundreds of refugees arrive at the city's docks of the already well-populated Philadelphia. The seasons take their own course with too-warm winters, and low rainfall causing dried crops, and cracked dirt streets. When the rain does come harshly, it leaves paths of mud and stagnant water where mosquitos breed. Yellow fever devastates the city. Diana comes to the aid of the sick, saving as many as she can with natural remedies. She vehemently fights the city doctors, who believe that bleeding the stricken is the only way to purge them of disease. From a population of 55,000, Philadelphia dwindles to 30,000 residents after the plague. On leave from her Philadelphia businesses, Diana travels to Boston for the marriage of Farrell to Constance O'Hara. With the failing of the chandlery owned by inlaws Ruth and Isaac in that city, Diana brings the family to Philadelphia to join her enterprises.

In Philadelphia, 'golden times' were with the Shannons. Isaac says of his sister-in-law, 'Elm Court as her engine and the family at her back ... Diana built a glorious machine I ain't seen the likes of in all my years of wander.' And to add to the family name, Farrell and Constance presented Diana with seven grandchildren. The humane Diana is strongly against slavery. Knowing she will be faced with the issue, Diana hesitantly travels to Virginia to attend the marriage of son James Emmett to Eliza Hope Beecham. It is here that she meets John Maguire, who becomes a friend and companion. From Virginia, Diana ventures to Washington at the request of her good friend Dolly (Todd) Madison, wife of President James Madison. Of Washington Diana thinks, 'What could one expect in a city that produced nothing but government ... It seemed to Diana that everybody she met was here to serve his own purpose.' Again, there is no safety in Washington as the Royal Navy attacks the States.

Diana is stalwart, concerned for all classes, rich and poor - she works from her heart. She's an independent woman, generous, and caring, and a true 'Daughter of Liberty'. Cole and Bunch begin with a leisurely-paced story that gains momentum with each succeeding chapter. Their novel tells of courage, love, hardship, sadness, and joy through war, plagues, destruction, and rebuilding. I recommend the book, whose ending left me longing for a continuation of the story. For readers who enjoy rich, historical fiction, Cole and Bunch successfully deliver.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Daughter of Liberty, March 31, 2009

By 

Kathryn Kimbrough - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Daughter of Liberty (The Shannon Family Saga, Bk. 1) (Paperback)

A Daughter Of Liberty By Allen Cole & Chris Bunch
This is my second copy of this book. I have worn the first copy out. I believe that the history and life style, in my oppinion, is very accurate. I always seem to find some little fact the I missed in the miny times I have read the book. People looking for a fictional but I believe correct time line in history will enjoy this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, March 8, 2011

By 

Allan "a. scribe" (Boca Raton, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Daughter Of Liberty (Kindle Edition)

This is the review that appeared in Bookloons.com, which is quickly becoming one of the best book review sites on the web:



Reviewed by J. A. Kaszuba Locke

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allan Cole and Chris Bunch spin a significant historical saga dating from 1778 to 1814, using original sources of diaries and letters wherever possible. The story is told in a five-book format beginning in Valley Forge, and continuing to Cherry Valley, NY, to Philadelphia, PA, and Washington. The authors credit the women and minorities who played a vast role in shaping history.

Among these women is Diana Jameson, a 15-year-old indentured servant, escaping an abusive master with the assistance of Emmett Shannon. Emmett is a deserter from the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Diana and Emmett fall in love and marry en route to his family in Cherry Valley. But Emmett is mortally wounded while pursuing renegades bent on pillage and destruction. Alone, Diana continues to Cherry Valley where, with the birth of a son, she assumes leadership of the Shannon homestead, surviving the war, attacks of rebels, and vengeful Seneca Indians. Diana's natural instinct for business leads her to establish a successful inn upon the Shannon homestead. From the sale of the Cherry Valley inn, Diana resourcefully progresses to Pennsylvania with stepson Farrell and son James Emmett. Taken under the wing of Michael and Anne Walsh in the city of Philadelphia, Diana strategically establishes new business ventures.

But, her Philadelphia success is not without pain. Hundreds of refugees arrive at the city's docks of the already well-populated Philadelphia. The seasons take their own course with too-warm winters, and low rainfall causing dried crops, and cracked dirt streets. When the rain does come harshly, it leaves paths of mud and stagnant water where mosquitos breed. Yellow fever devastates the city. Diana comes to the aid of the sick, saving as many as she can with natural remedies. She vehemently fights the city doctors, who believe that bleeding the stricken is the only way to purge them of disease. From a population of 55,000, Philadelphia dwindles to 30,000 residents after the plague. On leave from her Philadelphia businesses, Diana travels to Boston for the marriage of Farrell to Constance O'Hara. With the failing of the chandlery owned by inlaws Ruth and Isaac in that city, Diana brings the family to Philadelphia to join her enterprises.

In Philadelphia, 'golden times' were with the Shannons. Isaac says of his sister-in-law, 'Elm Court as her engine and the family at her back ... Diana built a glorious machine I ain't seen the likes of in all my years of wander.' And to add to the family name, Farrell and Constance presented Diana with seven grandchildren. The humane Diana is strongly against slavery. Knowing she will be faced with the issue, Diana hesitantly travels to Virginia to attend the marriage of son James Emmett to Eliza Hope Beecham. It is here that she meets John Maguire, who becomes a friend and companion. From Virginia, Diana ventures to Washington at the request of her good friend Dolly (Todd) Madison, wife of President James Madison. Of Washington Diana thinks, 'What could one expect in a city that produced nothing but government ... It seemed to Diana that everybody she met was here to serve his own purpose.' Again, there is no safety in Washington as the Royal Navy attacks the States.

Diana is stalwart, concerned for all classes, rich and poor - she works from her heart. She's an independent woman, generous, and caring, and a true 'Daughter of Liberty'. Cole and Bunch begin with a leisurely-paced story that gains momentum with each succeeding chapter. Their novel tells of courage, love, hardship, sadness, and joy through war, plagues, destruction, and rebuilding. I recommend the book, whose ending left me longing for a continuation of the story. For readers who enjoy rich, historical fiction, Cole and Bunch successfully deliver.