Until I Have No Country: A Novel of the King Phillips War in New England

by Michael J. Tougias

Book by Tougias, Michael

Genres: Historical Fiction, Native American, Historical, Fiction, War

250 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

About the author

Adventure is the theme that runs through most of my books, from outdoors titles (The Connecticut River from Source to Sea, Exploring the Hidden Charles) to fiction (Until I Have No Country) to nonfiction sea rescues (Overboard! A Storm Too Soon, Rescue of the Bounty).
One of my current adventures is waiting to see if Disney will begin filming a movie-length version of the Coast Guard rescue book The Finest Hours. Another adventure for me is publishing a funny family memoir with my daughter, called The Cringe Chronicles (Mortifying Misadventures with my Dad).
My friends have been asking if I'll write a sequel to There's a Porcupine in my Outhouse (2003 Outdoor Book of the Year) but I think they just want me to revise their characters so they don't look so dumb!

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

REALLY well written, love a good historical story that fits the facts - you get to see what the author THINKS might have been the details - or at least SHOULD have been.
amazing that the work ethic even took native Americans away from their families and they sacrificed so much to join with Phillip - even if they were doubtful he'd win - was just a nice read and was disappointed to come back the real world when it ended.

[Misschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, great introduction to King Philip's War for those interested. As for kids, I would rate it as a PG13.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terrible, but not particularly good either. Tougias also co-wrote a lengthy and information-packed narrative of King Phillip's war, and here he uses those historical tidbits to construct a novel. While it's a decent story, of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about this pivotal event in early American history, the characters- English and Native alike- are flat and uninteresting. Tougias' writing style is terse and direct, but lacks any subtlety and verve. King Phillip's war is still begging for a good historical novelist to take it on.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know Michael only from his non-fiction, try this one - available at most Massachusetts libraries. Well worth it. Gets you thinking about the other person's shoes.