The Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen

by Ethan Allen

The spirit of Ethan Allen, leader of the Green Mountain Boys. which fills the narrative, helped inject confidence that the Revolutionary War could be won.

Genres: History, American History

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1779

About the author

The "green mountain boys," troops of Revolutionary soldier Ethan Allen, helped to capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775 for America.

The province of New York settled Vermont, and this early guerrilla leader fought against this settlement and later for independence during the war.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Jayna Baas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting first-hand account, and even more interesting because it was published before the War for Independence was over. Allen does not mince words about his and other captives’ treatment at British hands (profanity warning), but he’s also surprisingly quick to point out those of his captors who were kind and humane. I had read this quite a while ago and revisited it for research purposes. It’s not too hard to read despite the rather archaic language, and it’s fascinating to get an inside look at Revolutionary politics and what happened to American prisoners of war.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hero's journey, but the protagonist announces having reached a "state of manhood" in the opening line, so he never flinches or refuses the call to action, he needs no mentor, and his long ordeal contributes nothing to his growth as a character.

Instead, the protagonist is Ethan Allen, the penultimate "Green Mountain Boy," and when he returns home to his Green Mountains, having endured so much suffering, and after long thought to be dead, his "resurrection" reveals the birth of the state of Vermont with which he is identified (lit., "Verdant/Green Mountain"), and the collective maturation of the young United States in its war against Britain.

[Edmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting narrative from the old times, the writing is so different, with some unfamiliar words like drinking grog. His fighting in Fort Ticonderoga and the skirmishes with the English and Hessian troops during the Colonial wars. It really gave me a different perspective and puts you in the middle of the action.

[David Fitz-Gerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a 1988 reprint of the 1930 version. I was happy to read Ethan Allen's own account of his captivity, though I wish he had been more detailed in his account. The hardships he endured during captivity were unimaginable. This is an important historic perspective.

[david · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vaguely interesting account of Allen's misadventures during the Revolution