Customer Reviews

Fire of the Covenant: The Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gerald Lund's work of historical fiction (Fire of the Covenant) brings to life the unique history of the handcart pioneer migration to Utah in the mid 1800's. Lund weaves together real people involved in the ill-fated 1856 Willie and Martin Handcart Companies with a set of fictional characters.

The story starts in Europe with the conversion to Mormonism of several characters and their life-altering decision to leave their families, homes, and jobs in order to sail to America and cross the midwest plains and Rocky Mountains by handcart -- all for the sake of their new found faith. Many of these pioneers were poor (hence the use of handcarts instead of wagons); some could not yet speak English; others were old and knew that they might not live through the journey. Yet they moved forward with faith.

The lateness of their arrival in America combined with some unfortunate decisions and an early and severe winter combine to place these handcart pioneers in the Rocky Mountains pulling their handcarts through blizzards while suffering from starvation and frostbite.

This is my favorite Mormon historical fiction novel. This book will make you laugh and cry. One of the best compliments I can give a book is to say that some of the characters from the book continue to inspire me even years after I read it. The Fire of the Covenant is one of these books.

Reading Fire of the Covenant is an entertaining way to learn about Mormon handcart pioneer history. Those familiar with Mormons and Mormon pioneers will gain additional insight. Those coming fresh to the topic will not be left behind, and will learn both the history and the feeling behind the history.

When I first read this book, I was overwhelmed! I read The Work And The Glory, so was familiar with the author. Gerald Lund made me a part of the handcart trip, and a member of each family. I am enjoying it again, and just as overwhelmed as the first time! It reminded me of the strength of the Mormon Pioneers. This is a book that will stay in my library, so that I may read it several more times! (I meant to put 5 stars!)

What an amazing talent Gerald Lund has in his ability to merge historical events with the inclusion of fictional characters. Although this book's several pages can intimidate even the stoutest of novelists, I found myself unable to put it down as I moved from one chapter to the next. I found myself being pulled into the story and truly feeling what it must have been like crossing the unsettled West as a Mormon Pioneer. On more than one occasion I was actually brought to tears.

If you read this book, prepare yourself for some late night reading sessions.

When I started the novel, I was a bit overwhelmed by its length. But as I began to turn the pages, I was quickly enveloped into the amazing tale of the trials, bravery, and faithful diligence of the members of the Martin and Willie handcart companies. Gerald N. Lund paints a vivid portrayal of their struggles that stimulates the mind, pulls at the heart and envigorates the spirit.... 5 stars!

Never before has a book allowed me to see the true nature of the pioneers. Gerald Lunds description and story line allowed me to feel as though I was right with the Martin Handcart company. His descriptions and historical clarity allowed me to know that all their sacrifices were not in vain. This book has helped me understand the true nature of the Fire and the Covenant.

This is an amazing book for all readers to read. It will make yoy laugh and cry! Lund puts you right there in the heart of history! This book is amazing 100 times over!

Gerald Lund does another excellent job of blending historical facts with a few fictional characters to really make history come alive.

Interesting story. Its well written,@ researched,
and easy to read. I wanted to keep reading to
see what was going to happen next to these
poor people. Quite the story.

Excellent novel. Although the book is lenghty, the reading is exciting and fast paced. It is based on true accounts of the handcart companies whose members walked from Iowa to the Morman's promised land of Utah in bad weather and good, warm and extremely cold pulling wooden carts behind them containing everything that owned in this world. Very few people, if any, in todays society would undertake such a journey as this. Regardless of your religious views, you cannot help but admire these people for their resolve and tenacious.

I put off reading this Lund novel for a long time. I knew it would be a hard one to read.This is an LDS historical/factual account of the early pioneers who crossed the plains with handcarts. I always heard the names Martian and Willie and thought how awful these men were to start out to late and get these people into trouble, I never understood the whole story. Now when I here those two men's names I think courage, faith, strength. Lund has a way of telling a true story with fictional characters that amazes me every time I read one of his books. I loved the notes at the end of the chapters that explained what was real and when it happened. I have a different perspective of this whole experience now and a greater appreciation for what those people went threw. Amazing. 12 and up. Completely clean, but there is great sadness and death that a younger reader might have a hard time with.