Customer Reviews

Savage Wilderness

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While I enjoyed this book much more than Coyle's Civil War books - perhaps because I knew less of this history so was not as critical - I still feel that he is not totally comfortable with historical fiction. Apart from some obvious anachronisms, what seems most strained in this book is Coyle's effort to present fully rounded and believable native American characters. Unfortunately, as drawn, these characters have the stilted 'noble redman' quality that American Indians are frequently stereotyped with - even the 'bad' ones.

Still, Coyle's story is entertaining and his characters are, for the most part, engaging. I would have preferred more follow through - a more clear rounding out of the story so that one had some sense of what had happened to all the main characters. It seemed like a lot was left unresolved (so there can be a sequel?).

In any event, as Coyle continues down the path of historical fiction, each book seems to be better than the one before.

This was an interesting book, as it told the story of several men during the French and Indian War. A British officer,a French officer, a Scot who fought as an enlisted British soldier and a Caughnawaga native. The story was well told and historically accurate and each character blossomed during the story, especially the native. But as I finished the book each was the fate of his own destiny, except the native. He completely vanished from the ending. I was very disappointed due to the fact that most of the beginning of the book focused so much on him. Even with that fact it is a fine book to enjoy.

American history books devote little space and attention to the Frech and Indian war. Coyle's panoramic backdrop for relating the story of this war along the colonial frontier from Lake George, NY to Ft. Dusquene (the eventual site of Pittsburg, PA) captures the historic essence of this, the last of the great colonial wars. Coyle deftly intertwines the exploits of four main characters - a French army officer, a colonial soldier of the Virginia militia, an Indian ally of the French, and a British army officer - to show: the basic French motive to simply lay claim to all of the unsettled areas of North America; the inept effort by ill-equipped and ill-trained colonial militia to oust the French and their Indian allies from their western frontier; the major role of the Indians in inflicting the worst rout ever experienced by a white force in the new world; and the ill-suited battle tactics of the regular English army in the dense forests of the frontier. Only the French decision not to continue

Continuing his successful transition from modern techno-thrillers to historical fiction, Harold Coyle has turned in a solid effort in "Savage Wilderness," a novel of the French & Indian Wars. This novel is entertaining not just for flint & powder history buffs, but for anyone even with a remote interest in this romantic, bygone era.

With a sweeping scope, well-sketched characters, and finely tuned action scenes, "Savage Wilderness" is a true epic. "The Last of the Mohicans" this is not, but that doesn't mean a great movie can't be adapted from it.

Another solid historical novel from Harold Coyle. This time arguably about the first 'Anglo-American war': i.e. native Americans against the English. Background events are properly summarised for a generalist audience. Captured the irony of Jacobite Irish & Scottish troops who found themselves in the British forces fighting against their natural French allies. Sets the background for a novel of American liberation.

Mr. Coyle captured my heart and mind with this book. From the start I was totally unable to put this book down. It took me three days to read it, the only time I was able to put it down was to eat and sleep. He, as no other author is able to do, stood the hair on the back of my neck up and sent cold chills down my spine. Thank you Mr. Coyle for your great novel!

If you are a history fan and know little of the French and Indian War, you will love this book. Masterfully written, with vivid characters and great battles.

As a native of Pittsburgh and a very distant relative of British General John Forbes, I'm fascinated by the French and Indian War. Coyle sure makes the period come alive. The only better account is Eckert's "Wilderness Empire". For all you non-Pittsburghers, did you know that the field of Braddock's Defeat is thought to be where the Edgar Thompson Steel Works are today? That Three Rivers Stadium is the site where the Indians had such intense sport with their British and Colonial prisoners? Thanks Harold for making this often neglected period come alive. Keep up the great writing and I'll keep buying. Paperback, of course.

Having read (and enjoyed) several of the author's previous books - particularly the Civil War duology - I looked forward to this novel. After an interesting start & middle, which appeared to be building up to an excellent climax, the story just appeared to fizzle out. OK, we found out (sort of) what happened to the French & British officers and the Scottish refugee, but the Indian brothers seemed to disappear into thin air, and the latter elements of the campaigns and battles where only covered in a sketchy manner. It felt like we were being prepared for a sequel; is this the case?

First, it is really just less then a four star book. Coyle must have done a tremendous amount of research for this one. Some of the settings and characters are truly well done. This time period in America (prior to the Revolutionary War) is not real familiar to a lot of folks. This book presents this time very well. It is part history lesson, part action/romance.

At times Coyle was a little long winded when setting up the next scene. But, if you pay attention, you will learn something new about the history of the United States. George Washington make several appearence as a young man in the Colonial Militia. Times were hard back then. Especially on the frontier. The frontier extended all the way out to the Ohio River Valley. A lot of the middle of the book takes place in what they called the Wilderness.

I can reccommend this book.