Review of Evangeline: The Novel
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[i][Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Evangeline: The Novel" by Richard F. Mullins.][/i] [rwc=id463915-125]3 out of 4 stars.[/rwc]Under nominal but unenforced British rule, the Acadian citizens of Nova Scotia in 1754 live an idyllic life: their farms are productive; their families are safe; and their youths, like the gentle Gabriel and the beautiful Evangéline, are hopelessly in love and looking forward to joyful futures together. But when the lenient British governor of Nova Scotia falls ill and is replaced by a ruthless one, the peace-loving Acadians are ordered to fight in British hostilities against the French. Predictably, they refuse, giving the governor an excuse to deport them all, banishing hundreds of innocent farmers from the only home they’ve ever known.
Just two days before their wedding, Gabriel and Evangéline are separated, relocated to foreign shores without food, money, or protection. Bound by the fierceness of young love, each vows never to stop looking for the other. But the world conspires against them, it seems, and the two young lovers find that reunion will not be quite as easy as they had hoped.
Evangeline: The Novel, written by Richard F. Mullins, is a dramatic retelling of the epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In reviewing this book, I felt it necessary first to read Longfellow’s “Evangeline”, which was new to me, in order to compare the two accounts; however, a reader merely looking for a compelling story need not do so, as Mullins’s retelling is complete on its own. Mullins follows the events of the poem while also fleshing them out with historical references and dramatized events, turning Longfellow’s poetry into a heartfelt, full-bodied tale rooted in fact. He has clearly done his homework, as frequent endnotes and credible references clarify the historical trivia and validate his interpretations.
Throughout the story, members of two native tribes, the Mi’kmaq and the Shawnee, are represented fairly and sympathetically, with explanations of their actions from their own perspectives and stretches of their own languages presented and translated. I cannot attest to the accuracy of the translations, but I was impressed by the author’s attentiveness to the inclusion of groups that are often omitted from “the white man’s” history books. Undoubtedly, these tribes were vital to the lives of early Canadians and Americans, and it is refreshing to see them play their proper, pivotal roles with efforts made by the author to view events through their eyes.
The profane language used is minimal, but there are references to both consensual and non-consensual sex, and so I cannot recommend the book for children or young teens. Although most of the characters are Catholic and religion plays a large role in their lives, the reader does not need to be Catholic – or, indeed, religious at all – to fully appreciate the story.
Given that the copy I reviewed was a physical book produced by a publishing house with a professional editor credited in the acknowledgements, I was startled and dismayed to find many errors in the text, including typos, missing line breaks, extra spaces, and a cavalier disregard for conventions on the usage of hyphens. Another round of editing is needed.
Evangeline: The Novel earns a score of 3 out of 4 for its deeply felt and well-researched retelling of a classic literary tale. I was disheartened and somewhat confused to have to remove a star for the errors present, which I had not anticipated. The book would most appeal to lovers of historical fiction, young romance, and survival against long odds. ****** [i]Evangeline: The Novel [/i] View: [url=http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelves/book.php?id=463915]on Bookshelves[/url] | on Amazon
Just two days before their wedding, Gabriel and Evangéline are separated, relocated to foreign shores without food, money, or protection. Bound by the fierceness of young love, each vows never to stop looking for the other. But the world conspires against them, it seems, and the two young lovers find that reunion will not be quite as easy as they had hoped.
Evangeline: The Novel, written by Richard F. Mullins, is a dramatic retelling of the epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In reviewing this book, I felt it necessary first to read Longfellow’s “Evangeline”, which was new to me, in order to compare the two accounts; however, a reader merely looking for a compelling story need not do so, as Mullins’s retelling is complete on its own. Mullins follows the events of the poem while also fleshing them out with historical references and dramatized events, turning Longfellow’s poetry into a heartfelt, full-bodied tale rooted in fact. He has clearly done his homework, as frequent endnotes and credible references clarify the historical trivia and validate his interpretations.
Throughout the story, members of two native tribes, the Mi’kmaq and the Shawnee, are represented fairly and sympathetically, with explanations of their actions from their own perspectives and stretches of their own languages presented and translated. I cannot attest to the accuracy of the translations, but I was impressed by the author’s attentiveness to the inclusion of groups that are often omitted from “the white man’s” history books. Undoubtedly, these tribes were vital to the lives of early Canadians and Americans, and it is refreshing to see them play their proper, pivotal roles with efforts made by the author to view events through their eyes.
The profane language used is minimal, but there are references to both consensual and non-consensual sex, and so I cannot recommend the book for children or young teens. Although most of the characters are Catholic and religion plays a large role in their lives, the reader does not need to be Catholic – or, indeed, religious at all – to fully appreciate the story.
Given that the copy I reviewed was a physical book produced by a publishing house with a professional editor credited in the acknowledgements, I was startled and dismayed to find many errors in the text, including typos, missing line breaks, extra spaces, and a cavalier disregard for conventions on the usage of hyphens. Another round of editing is needed.
Evangeline: The Novel earns a score of 3 out of 4 for its deeply felt and well-researched retelling of a classic literary tale. I was disheartened and somewhat confused to have to remove a star for the errors present, which I had not anticipated. The book would most appeal to lovers of historical fiction, young romance, and survival against long odds. ****** [i]Evangeline: The Novel [/i] View: [url=http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelves/book.php?id=463915]on Bookshelves[/url] | on Amazon
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