Review of On The Plains Of Heaven
Posted: 30 Nov 2022, 13:34
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "On The Plains Of Heaven" by William H. Kennedy.]
On the Plains of Heaven by William H. Kennedy is a story set in late-nineteenth-century Canada. It depicts a unique period in history when the Hudson's Bay Company decided to sell its 1.5 million-square-mile fur-trade empire in Prince Rupert's Land to Canada. When the Canadian government sends surveyors to land where Métis families have lived for generations and the people who live there decide to defend their rights, tensions rise. This book focuses on the McGillivray family. The story begins when the patriarch of the family unexpectedly returns with a young bride named Elizabeth Fraser. Even though they are not legally married, this comes as a surprise to his nominal wife Madeleine Oakes, a Red River Colony Métis woman. In response, Madeleine commits a rash act that has far-reaching consequences for the family's lives.
The book's setting captivated me. I'd never read a book set in 1800s Canada before, so this one was fascinating. It was fascinating to learn about the lives of the people who lived there, particularly the interaction between the native population and the settlers. When the author included the sale of the 1.5 million-square-mile Prince Rupert's Land by the Hudson's Bay Company to Canada and the chaos that ensued, it felt like I was witnessing a piece of history, as this is a company that still exists today. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the book because the author did an excellent job of weaving fact and fiction together.
It was fascinating to watch the sequence of events play out. One lie intended to protect people had disastrous consequences for everyone involved. I liked how the author gradually revealed the puzzle while keeping the story unpredictable. I never expected something that happened in the first few chapters of the book to have such a long-term impact. The idea that every choice we make, no matter how big or small, good, bad, or indifferent, has an effect on us struck a chord with me. I also enjoyed reading about everyone's reactions to what happened. I could also sense the characters' love and concern for one another, which was heartwarming.
There was nothing I didn't like about this book. Despite being quite long, it held my attention until the end. Because the characters in the story were never one-dimensional, I could empathize with them. The story of Elizabeth was very interesting to me because it had many layers. The author also used the characters to show readers what life was like back then, with businesses like fur trading and buffalo hunting.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was a fascinating fictional account of the lives of Canadians in the late 1800s. I couldn't think of anything that would take away a star. I didn't notice a single typo, spelling, or grammar error while reading the book, so I believe it was exceptionally well edited. People who enjoy historical fiction should read this book. People interested in Canadian history may also enjoy this book because it depicts life during that time.
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On The Plains Of Heaven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
On the Plains of Heaven by William H. Kennedy is a story set in late-nineteenth-century Canada. It depicts a unique period in history when the Hudson's Bay Company decided to sell its 1.5 million-square-mile fur-trade empire in Prince Rupert's Land to Canada. When the Canadian government sends surveyors to land where Métis families have lived for generations and the people who live there decide to defend their rights, tensions rise. This book focuses on the McGillivray family. The story begins when the patriarch of the family unexpectedly returns with a young bride named Elizabeth Fraser. Even though they are not legally married, this comes as a surprise to his nominal wife Madeleine Oakes, a Red River Colony Métis woman. In response, Madeleine commits a rash act that has far-reaching consequences for the family's lives.
The book's setting captivated me. I'd never read a book set in 1800s Canada before, so this one was fascinating. It was fascinating to learn about the lives of the people who lived there, particularly the interaction between the native population and the settlers. When the author included the sale of the 1.5 million-square-mile Prince Rupert's Land by the Hudson's Bay Company to Canada and the chaos that ensued, it felt like I was witnessing a piece of history, as this is a company that still exists today. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the book because the author did an excellent job of weaving fact and fiction together.
It was fascinating to watch the sequence of events play out. One lie intended to protect people had disastrous consequences for everyone involved. I liked how the author gradually revealed the puzzle while keeping the story unpredictable. I never expected something that happened in the first few chapters of the book to have such a long-term impact. The idea that every choice we make, no matter how big or small, good, bad, or indifferent, has an effect on us struck a chord with me. I also enjoyed reading about everyone's reactions to what happened. I could also sense the characters' love and concern for one another, which was heartwarming.
There was nothing I didn't like about this book. Despite being quite long, it held my attention until the end. Because the characters in the story were never one-dimensional, I could empathize with them. The story of Elizabeth was very interesting to me because it had many layers. The author also used the characters to show readers what life was like back then, with businesses like fur trading and buffalo hunting.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was a fascinating fictional account of the lives of Canadians in the late 1800s. I couldn't think of anything that would take away a star. I didn't notice a single typo, spelling, or grammar error while reading the book, so I believe it was exceptionally well edited. People who enjoy historical fiction should read this book. People interested in Canadian history may also enjoy this book because it depicts life during that time.
******
On The Plains Of Heaven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon