In the year 1754, the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, is shattered by the terrifying cries of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day that had promised new happiness, finds herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War. It is a harrowing march north. Miriam can only force herself to the next stopping place, the next small portion of food, the next icy stream to be crossed. At the end of the trail waits a life of hard work and, perhaps, even a life of ...
Read More
In the year 1754, the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, is shattered by the terrifying cries of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day that had promised new happiness, finds herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War. It is a harrowing march north. Miriam can only force herself to the next stopping place, the next small portion of food, the next icy stream to be crossed. At the end of the trail waits a life of hard work and, perhaps, even a life of slavery. Mingled with her thoughts of Phineas Whitney, her sweetheart on his way to Harvard, is the crying of her sister s baby, Captive, born on the trail. Miriam and her companions finally reach Montreal, a city of shifting loyalties filled with the intrigue of war, and here, by a sudden twist of fortune, Miriam meets the prominent Du Quesne family, who introduce her to a life she has never imagined. Based on an actual narrative diary published in 1807, Calico Captive skillfully reenacts an absorbing facet of history."
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
First U.k. Edition. Hardback. Dust Jacket. 8vo. pp.274. Children's fiction. Publisher's own retained copy with their stamp on the front pastedown reading 'file copy. ' A small Victor Gollanz publisher's number ' 63 ' written in ink on the rear of dust jacket indicates the year of publication. A story based on real events is set in New England in 1754; a young girl taken captive, is caught up in the struggle between the English and French colonists and the American Indians. Jacket illustration by Shirley Hughes shows a young woman in 19th century dress in a forest landscape followed by two figures of native Americans. Fine in fine dust jacket.
Miriam lives with her sister and brother-in-law and their children on the frontier. When they are captured by Indians, they are taken to Quebec. While her brother-in-law is imprisoned and negotiating for their release, Miriam and her sister must find a place to live, and a way to support themselves. Meanwhile, they wonder what has happened to her nieces and nephew? Near the end, Miriam has to choose between staying in Quebec and becoming the wife of a French soldier and trapper, or returning home to her friend, a young clergyman.
