3 out of 4 stars
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Fire over Acadia is a book penned by Ronald E. Gaffney. The tome takes the reader on a voyage through time to the blazing land of Acadia aka Nova Scotia.
Set against the backdrop of the French and Indian War in America, the story begins in the year 1751. The book revolves around a man named Bryan Hawkins. Hawkins was a member of the crew of the ship called Providence. Providence was sailing on the waters around Newfoundland when it was captured by the privateer, St. Germain, and his band. They were taken to the French stronghold, Louisbourg. There, they were informed that the British had captured a French ship some time back. The crew of Providence would only be spared if the British agreed to return the French ship. Bryan Hawkins was selected to accompany Lieutenant Andre and the two Indians, Copage and Gerome, to negotiate with the British. Thus, started a new chapter in Bryan’s life. Will he be able to succeed in his mission? Will he thrive in this war-torn land? Will love find him? Only perseverance and grit will help him to get the answers to these questions. This is the story of a boy transforming into a man.
My first and foremost observation of this book is that it is incredibly well-researched. Gaffney's experience as a lawyer in Nova Scotia, and his passion for the history of this land is noticeable. One of the best aspects of this book is the objectivity with which it is written. The author has depicted the sides of the British, the French, the Indians, and the Acadians. I have to say that my heart broke for the Acadians. They should not have been treated the way they were. Gaffney has interspersed real events with the fictional story. Moreover, he has given a chronological account of these events. This made the book all the more authentic. I liked this about the novel. However, this may make it a tad boring for some readers.
Now, let us talk about the characters. Bryan Hawkins was a young idealistic British boy in the beginning of the book. Gradually, he hardened into a ranger. Naturally, he had to do things he would not do otherwise in order to survive. However, he did not lose his ideals. Despite the peer pressure, he did not practice scalping. I loved how he did not succumb to his desire for Miss Bristol because of his love for Gisèle.
I think the errors were a major shortcoming of this book. I found more than ten errors. I believe a round of editing and proofreading would make this book perfect.
Keeping in mind the pros and cons, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I have reduced one star because of the errors. I believe that people who do not like history should steer clear of this book. I recommend this book to history buffs. People who are interested in the history of America and Canada would love this book.
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Fire Over Acadia
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