The Crossing

by Winston Churchill

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Genres: Historical Fiction, Classics, Fiction, Historical

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1904

About the author

This is not the British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Spencer Churchill. This is the American novelist, Winston Churchill.

Churchill was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Edward Spalding and Emma Bell (Blaine) Churchill. He attended Smith Academy in Missouri and the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1894 and became an editor of the Army and Navy Journal. He resigned from the navy to pursue a writing career. While he would be most successful as a novelist, he was also a published poet and essayist.

His first novel was The Celebrity (1898). (Mr. Keegan's Elopement was published in 1896 within a magazine. In 1903 it was republished as an illustrated hardback book.) Churchill's next novel—Richard Carvel (1899)—was a phenomenon, selling as many as two million copies in a nation of only 76 million, and made Churchill rich. His next two novels, The Crisis (1901) and The Crossing (1904), were also very successful.

Churchill's early novels were historical but his later works were set in contemporary America. He often sought to include his political ideas into his novels. Churchill wrote in the naturalist style of literature, and some have called him the most influential of the American naturalists.

In 1899, Churchill moved to Cornish, New Hampshire. He became involved in politics and was elected to the state legislature in 1903 and 1905. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1906. In 1912, he was nominated as the Progressive candidate for governor but did not win the election. He did not again seek office. In 1917, he toured the battlefields of World War I and wrote about what he saw, his first non-fiction work.

Sometime after this move, he took up watercolors, and also became known for his landscapes. Some of his works are in the collections of Cornish Colony Museum in Windsor, Vermont, Hood Museum of Art (part of Hopkins Center for the Arts Dartmouth College) in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, New Hampshire.

In 1919, Churchill decided to stop writing and withdrew from public life. As a result of this he was gradually forgotten by the public. In 1940, The Uncharted Way, his first book in 20 years, was published. The book examined Churchill's thoughts on religion. He did not seek to publicize the book and it received little attention. Shortly before his death he said, "It is very difficult now for me to think of myself as a writer of novels, as all that seems to belong to another life."

Churchill died in Winter Park, Florida in 1947. He is the great-grandfather of Albany, New York, journalist Chris Churchill.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston...]

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew there were two Winston Churchills? There was the British statesman we’re all familiar with, but there was am American author who was, in his time, more widely known. He authored four novels, all of them best-sellers. In The Crossing, the main character is young David Ritchie, sort of a David Copperfield of the American frontier. He helps the woodsmen fight the Indians, and later on, the British, since the Revolutionary war is in progress. He’s the hero of every skirmish, but we don’t really mind, because he’s such a likable young fellow. He crosses paths with Daniel Boone, Andy Jackson, and other historical figures, but the story is all his own. The first half of the book, when Davy is just a kid, is the most exciting, but later on, as he grows older, his adventures are much less adventurous. So, you can quit half way through the book, and you’ve still had a very good read.

[Stephanie Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating read. I didn't expect to enjoy it or read it as fast as I did, honestly. So a nice pleasant surprise.

(Anytime that French showed up though I had to cry at how little I know lol)

[Cassie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A month ago, I thought that Winston Churchill's literary capacity was composed of his impressive speaches, and his most popular work 'History of the English Speaking Peoples'. I had no idea, then, that the great statesman was also a great author. The Crossing is a novel, set before, during, and after the War of American Independance, and follows the life and travels of a very unique young man. It is written in the first person, to make you feel an empathy for the hero. Previous to reading this book, there were many facets of early American history that I did not then know, but I sure do now! Most of the book is set in the Kentuckey territory, telling of the claiming of that country, and of the vallor of the men who claimed it. Our hero, as a twelve year old, is drummer boy to Colonel George Rogers Clark, the man who, before he was twenty six, by the very force of his nature subdued forty of the ferocious Northern tribes into a peace. I love the historical figures that Mr. Churchill threw in to keep it interesting. I simply can't say enough about this book. It is unlike anything I have ever read before, and I strongly reccomend that anybody with any interest in American history should track down a copy and READ it. You won't be able to put it down. As with all books, don't forget to "Analize before swallowing".
Read it!
Cassie

[CJ Harden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating courage

I've seldom found a book that so captured my imagination that I could barely put it down. The story of a young boy with principle & grit is compelling but to know his struggles were real made it captivating. The history of our nation was so well written I experienced the fear & the joyful exuberance of p!ain mountain folk. History comes alive through the eyes of first the boy, then the teen & finally the man. What a surprise to enjoy American wilderness in the writings of Winston Churchill.

[Mollie Maclean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It helped me understand the early 1800s and the development of the area from Charleston, SC, through Kentucky, and around the Ohio River Valley. The author illuminated the close connection with the Mississippi River and New Orleans. I got a look into reading historical fiction in the early 1900s when there was more time to read and imagine.

[G Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing narrative

If you enjoy historical fiction immersed in actual events, do not overlook The Crossing. The birth of a nation, replete with success and failure, is told in a narrative that often reads like poetry.

[George Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that follows a young boy from the death of his father, through his adventures in the founding of Kentucky and the plot to separate the west from the eastern states. By the American Winston Churchill.

[Steven Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was an American Winston Churchill and he had the #1 best selling book in America for about 4 years in a row. At the time he was more famous than the British one. This book is about the settling of Kentucky.

[Statmonkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill included the "S" in his name when publishing to differentiate himself from the other, more famous Winston Churchill, who was also an author? Despite Sir Winston's offering to use the "S" to make it easier for people to differentiate between them, the original Winston Churchill, who wrote this book, is now largely forgotten.

Luckily, he is still remembered, and his three most significant books are still around. The Crossing was the last of these three, all works of historical fiction, all best sellers in their day, and all three entertaining reads. To understand how big Winston Churchill was, the first of the three (Richard Carvel) sold over 2,000,000 copies in a nation of only 70,000,000 people. Winston Churchill was a big name in the early 1900s, and his name on the cover of a book was sure to make the book a big seller. His books made him one of the most successful authors of his day.

I discovered Winston Churchill after reading The Damnation of Theron Ware, and my fascination grew with The Crisis, his book about the Civil War. Churchill expertly blends fictional characters into historical settings while remaining true to history. He also incorporates personal relationships, romance, and character growth around the turning point of the day to bring history alive. The Crossing is another of his works that blends history and adventure, spanning the American Revolution to the Louisiana Purchase and following an orphaned child on his journey to manhood. He encounters historical figures such as Daniel Boone, George Rodgers Clark, and Andrew Jackson, who challenge his beliefs and shape his destiny. The plot delves into the complexities of politics, loyalty, justice, expansionism, and personal growth as the child becomes a man and embarks on a daring crossing that will forever alter the course of his life.

I have read Richard Carvel, The Crossing and The Crisis. This book stood out because it deals with a more obscure historical period and subject. However, there are some caveats. The book was written in 1904, and while I don't find it dated, there are issues with the dialogue and characterizations that made me cringe.
> Written, too, upon that towering wall of white rock, in the handwriting of God Himself, is the history of the indomitable Race to which we belong.
> Columbus persisted and found a new world; Clark persisted and won an empire for thoughtless generations to enjoy.

Churchill had a way with words and was capable of crafting memorable phrases. Here are a few examples:
> "Some day, you will learn that foresight sometimes comes to men, but never to assemblies.
> But it is often given to one man to work out the salvation of a people and be destroyed for it.

and when he was talking about the Constitution
> It was a compromise. It was an attempt to satisfy thirteen colonies, each of which clung tenaciously to its identity. It suited the eighteenth-century conditions of a little English-speaking confederacy along the seaboard, far removed from the world's strife and jealousy. It scarcely contemplated that the harassed millions of Europe would flock to its fold, and it did not foresee that, in less than a hundred years, its own citizens would sweep across the three thousand miles of forest and plain and mountain to the Western Ocean ...

In conclusion, while the book may have its flaws, it still offers a unique perspective on the early days of America. Whether you're interested in historical fiction or simply enjoy a good novel about the frontier, this book is worth checking out. So go ahead and give it a read – you might just find yourself transported back in time to an era of cowboys, pioneers, and adventure.

[Neal Fandek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here I thought I'd found a 100+ year old novel by the great statesman - no such luck. This is an American novelist, much ballyhooed in his tine, now just cliched. This was apparently the #1 book in 1904. We meet historical figures from the 1770s to early 1800s --Andrew Jackson, Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark (Vincennes) -- at every turn and assorted bad guys and nasty, nasty Indians. They're all savage, fit only for extermination. Still, pretty good action scenes. If you could remove the constant refs to n**ers and Indians as vicious beasts, you might have a good movie.

[Tiffiny · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I did enjoy parts of the first 20% of this book, the egregious descriptions of slaves and Native Americans ruined it. It is from a white boy’s perspective that we read about the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the colonizing of the United States. However, I had to stop reading after the first person account of a battle with an Indian war party which ended with a celebratory killing on the part of the white party. The adventuresome writing is very good, the character development of all non-white characters was minimal and degrading at best and typical of the time it was written.

[Debbie Wenzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving insight to how the history of our country was distorted from the beginning, this work of fiction follows an young boy from abandonment in Charleston as the country is continuing to grow and establish itself into his adult life as a young lawyer. He serves his new country of America proudly. The friendships and loyalties he forms along life's way teach, nourish and disillusion him. This was the best seller of 1904.

[Scott T Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book

I have admired Mr. Churchill from a historical perspective. After reading this book, my admiration has taken on a deeper meaning. Wonderful book.

[Jeff Cliff · Rating 1 out of 5]

some quasi-interesting historical backdrop but did not hold my attention

[Elaine Bleau-Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I
I Loved this book! It was super interesting and has a very satisfying ending. In particular, I love the author’s imagery, and his ability to make you feel “right there.”

[Larry Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical novel by Winston Churchill, the guy born in St. Louis and who lived in Cornish, NH, not to be confused with Sir Winston S. Churchill, the former British Prime Minister. The Cornish Churchill was a popular author around the turn of the 20th century. He wrote a number of historical novels, and then some which probed social problems. He's a quite good author and the three of his books that I have read are all engaging.

This book deals with the time around the time of the Revolution, as the colonialists expended from the coastal colonies into the interior. In order to secure Kentucky from the Native Americans, who were being roiled up by the British, it was important to cross the Ohio River and secure the so-called Northwest Territories, i.e. Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Once that had happened, there was the problem that the Spanish had taken over Louisiana from the French and had closed off New Orleans from the Americans. That meant the settlers in Kentucky and environs had no good trade route for their goods, i.e. tobacco, wheat and so forth.

So the book deals with moving into Kentucky, securing it from the Native Americans, then clearing the way to Louisiana. I didn't realize that the Spanish had seized control of Louisiana from the French, but apparently they did. As nearly as I can tell, the author did a fairly careful job of getting the basics of the history correct. He just gave it a human face by telling it through the life of someone who was allegedly involved.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set during the late 1700's, this is the story of David Richie: orphan, drummer boy, pre-teen murderer and desecrator of corpses, miller and lawyer. As usual with a Churchill, fictional Davy gets to rub elbows with all sorts of real historical figures. Whether he's feeding Daniel Boone, wrestling with young Andrew Jackson, marching with George Rogers Clark or traipsing around my own neck of the woods with John Sevier.


*I feel the need to warn potential future readers to keep in mind Winston Churchill wrote at a different time and mindset when it came to the treatment of non-Caucasian characters.

[John Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating tale of an orphan boy who grows up in frontier Kentucky sheds light on some forgotten aspects of early American history. The main character/narrator, Davy, recounts his travels with George Rogers Clark, who assembled a volunteer army to seize British outposts north of the Ohio River during the American Revolution.
If you are looking for a good old-fashioned historical epic that has just the right combination of adventure, romance, intrigue, and realism, you will enjoy The Crossing.

[Danae · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, this is Winston Churchill, the American author, not the British prime minister. I didn't know that when i picked this book up. Haha.

Anyway, i think i'd describe it as Jane Eyre for boys. Orphan is treated cruelly by his only family, then heads off to make his own way in the world. I thought it was alright, but not one i'll read again.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off this is not Sir Winston Churchill the British statesman, but rather the American author. This book is a historical fiction set in the pre-revolutionary war era forward to the Louisiana purchase. I do not normally go for this type of novel, but I give it 5 of 5. I definitely recommend this books.

[Mary Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story of history. From the American Revolution to the Louisiana Purchase it gives a romantic and historic view of the United States. I definitely recommend it to fellow historical fiction lovers.

[Karalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fictional book based on the history of Kentucky and their part in the war with Britian. It's a good book but it drags and I find myself skipping paragraphs.

[Liz Cowans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Churchill is a wonderful author. And me being from Kentucky, it was interesting to see a history from his perspective.

[Glady Shiela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the smell of old paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wrong Winston, but it was ok.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterfully told tale and recount of the young American people.