Roger Sudden

by Thomas H. Raddall

A stirring historical novel set in the 1750s when rivalry between France and England was at its highest. A swashbuckling tale of adventure by one of Canada's most celebrated authors.

Genres: Historical Fiction

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

1903-1992

Reviews

[Mark MacMichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this recently, for the third time, and am still extremely impressed. When you live around the geography where the story is set it makes it even more entertaining. The founding of Halifax, the history of the Mic Macs and French as well as the politically incorrectness of it all is explained brilliantly. I remember having to read it in high school and even then found it extremely entertaining. Of course it all ends with the most un-Hollywood ending as possible but I often thought that in the right hands this might make a brilliant film...a Canadian Last of the Mohicans maybe. I've read a few Raddall books but this has always been my favorite. Who knew that a Nova Scotia novel could be so entertaining.

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Thomas Raddall’s second novel, which takes place between 1749 and 1759. It marks the early days of Nova Scotia’s history when Britain was still sending the undesirables it wanted out of England to Canada. It was part of an effort to provide a presence in a country where the looming shadow of Louisburg, a thriving French garrison, stood prominently proclaiming its dominance during the early English French rivalry for the possession of North America. In this large, sparsely settled, wild country, Nova Scotia, was gradually evolving from of a chaotic period into a more stable place as its social, political and military forces settled on firmer ground.

Roger Sudden was an impoverished young English aristocrat, a gentleman and an adventurer who was disillusioned with Bonnie Prince Charlie and saw the struggle in North America as an opportunity to find wealth and power in a new world order. The story covers ten years of his various adventures after he arrived in Halifax seeking his fortune, a combination of history, adventure and emotional conflict. During this time, he continuously shifted his loyalties, siding at times with the British, the French and the Indians, whichever side provided him the most personal benefit. His links with a man named John Foy, who was connected to a mysterious business in Halifax, facilitated his journey to become a ruthless trader,. It was also a time when he fell in love with Foy’s wife Mary, a beautiful red head who spied on behalf of the French during the long drawn-out conflict between the two nations.

However as time past, Sudden came to realize that wealth and power did not bring him everything he wanted, a self-understanding that led him through a thoughtful reconsideration of his life. He ultimately renounced whatever riches he had and helped the British capture Louisburg, but was caught in the process and summarily executed by the French.

This is a story about a man’s voyage of adventure and self-discovery, set in an historical period important in Canadian history. Some readers may find Sudden’s story elicits little of their sympathy as they feel less compassion for a man who had so many mixed loyalties in his search for wealth and power, even though he ultimately found his way.

Raddall, who lived on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, wrote several novels set during this early time in Nova Scotia and Canadian history. It is one more source of information for those interested in this time period, while at the same time providing a swashbuckling adventure story.

[Hugh Mosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have reached the age I am able to go my library to do rereads. Being from Nova Scotia I am quite familiar with the history of Halifax but the fictional story line made it entertaining to read again. Having known and been a neighbour of Tom for over 30 years I am somewhat biased but one can never regret reading one of his historical fictions. Roger Sudden is one of his earlier writings but he was already a great story teller and not afraid to do the research. In this time of truth and reconciliation with First Nations some may find parts of the story difficult but the truth being said there were no sides without a dark side during the founding of Halifax. Tom does not spare anyone in exposing their flaws.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old-fashioned ripping yarn, hyperbolic and exciting, but nearly destroyed by its blatantly racist depictions of indigenous people in the time of colonization. I enjoyed reading it but was really uncomfortable with the knowledge that when this was written, these were typical portrayals, and were accepted without question. It gets three stars for readability.

[Jim Puskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is both a compelling adventure yarn and an extremely well researched depiction of the real-life story of the founding of Halifax. Raddall's decision to tell the story by from the standpoint of a fictitious character certainly doesn't detract from its authenticity; all of the events really took place. And almost all of the other main characters (Johnstone, LeLoutre, Gautier, Father Maillard, Koap, Gorham, Wolfe, Madame Ducudrai, etc.) are real.
In creating his fictitious protagonist Roger Sudden, Raddall has picked up aspects of a number of real people and in so doing has presented a remarkable character: at various times a robber, soldier, smuggler, entrepreneur, frontiersman, roughneck and above all a survivor, twice captured by hostile native tribesmen -- and all the while being considered a traitor by both the English and the French, a man without a king or a country.
A thundering good read!

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas H. Raddall was a 'known' Canadian Fiction writer before there was such a thing. He was an creator of those adventure stories that are sometimes dismissed as 'boy's books' and this one is set in the French British wars that defined and define who we are today.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read - South Coast of NS - historical Fiction