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The People
In this retelling of the frontier story, the western tribes put aside ancient enmities and form
a confederation to oppose the invasion of their lands by the American army and settlers. The
confederation has control of gold mines and superior weapons supplied by a shadowy
Asian people called the Celestials. The confederation of The People is led by the Beothuk who
escaped extinction in their ancient homeland in eastern Canada and settled in the American western
plains. This is a fanciful retelling of the frontier saga. It also is a star-crossed love story between an
impressionable army lieutenant and a young Indian girl who is better educated and speaks more
languages than her soldier lover.
a confederation to oppose the invasion of their lands by the American army and settlers. The
confederation has control of gold mines and superior weapons supplied by a shadowy
Asian people called the Celestials. The confederation of The People is led by the Beothuk who
escaped extinction in their ancient homeland in eastern Canada and settled in the American western
plains. This is a fanciful retelling of the frontier saga. It also is a star-crossed love story between an
impressionable army lieutenant and a young Indian girl who is better educated and speaks more
languages than her soldier lover.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2014
About the author
Harlan Hague
38 books69 followersHarlan Hague, Ph.D., a retired history professor, has published history, prize-winning biography, award-winning fiction, travel and a bit of fantasy. He also writes screenplays. Travel and writing are complementary obsessions that are also most rewarding. For more on who he is and what he does, see his web site at http://harlanhague.us. He will respond to comments and questions.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 17, 2014
Harlan Hague's "The People" which I won through Goodreads Giveaways blends an alternate history of the frontier with the inventiveness of science fiction. It begins with a government eager to move settlers onto the land of the western plains so the tribes have formed a confederation to stave off the invasion, and also find a way of maintaining the unstable peace with the American army.
After the troops are chased away from Indian land by repeating rifle and mortar fire, Lieutenant Michael Wagner is commissioned as an Ambassador to "the People" led by Howahkan and the Beothuk, to uncover the secret of their weaponry. But when he infiltrates the tribe his allegiance begins to shift when he not only falls in love with Howahkan's well-educated granddaughter but also begins to understand the politics that have a foreign government trying to deprive the People of their land and past without any discussion or reason. This is a retelling of a frontier saga with a liberal dose of war, politics and romance.
With clever dexterity Harlan Hague sets the stage with a confederation of tribes led by Howahkan the leader of the Beothuk who's struggling to promote change from the old ways where young men proved their prowess and bravery in raids and war. A visionary, he wants peaceful co-existence with the army, trappers and traders, but not at the cost of their land and history. In this imaginative and unique interpretation of a clash of wills that plagued the American plains the Beothuk have control of gold mines, superior weapons supplied by an Asian people called the Celestials and are well-educated. Influenced by civilization in Washington where he travelled to parley with the President Howahkan understands that change is inevitable if any kind of lasting peace is to be forged between the nations. Well-written and vividly descriptive the reader is swept into the heart the Beothuk village with its customs, culture, history and storytelling.
The plot is fast-paced and action-packed as events unfold; the tension and suspense unrelenting as Howahkan not only prepares for war, but desperately tries to deflect the growing rebellion of Taloka and his Patriots who are determined to take over leadership of the Beothuk. Only the blossoming love affair between the impressionable army lieutenant and Howahkan's non-conformist granddaughter, and between a man of faith and a young Indian maiden dilute the chaos and violence.
The personalities of the characters are as well-developed, complex and unforgettable as the plot, especially Lieutenant Michael Wagner, the Ambassador to the Beothuk who's eager, confident, and open-minded and Kimimela a female warrior who's capable, self-assured and well-educated, speaking more languages than her soldier lover. Howahkan who's patient, wise, compassionate and well-respected strongly contrasts with Taloka, the leader of the rebels who's self-oriented and deluded. Into a mix of characters who add to the drama, passion, energy and realism of this story add Major Frederick Scott Bentley the military commander who kow-tows to government bureaucracy waging war against the Beothuk. He's arrogant, deceptive and without conscience.
I thoroughly enjoyed Harlan Hague's "The People" and thank the author for sending me a copy to review. It's a fascinating and inventive history of a confederation of tribes struggling to maintain their identity and land in the American frontier. I highly recommend it to history buffs who would like to read about the past with a different outcome.
After the troops are chased away from Indian land by repeating rifle and mortar fire, Lieutenant Michael Wagner is commissioned as an Ambassador to "the People" led by Howahkan and the Beothuk, to uncover the secret of their weaponry. But when he infiltrates the tribe his allegiance begins to shift when he not only falls in love with Howahkan's well-educated granddaughter but also begins to understand the politics that have a foreign government trying to deprive the People of their land and past without any discussion or reason. This is a retelling of a frontier saga with a liberal dose of war, politics and romance.
With clever dexterity Harlan Hague sets the stage with a confederation of tribes led by Howahkan the leader of the Beothuk who's struggling to promote change from the old ways where young men proved their prowess and bravery in raids and war. A visionary, he wants peaceful co-existence with the army, trappers and traders, but not at the cost of their land and history. In this imaginative and unique interpretation of a clash of wills that plagued the American plains the Beothuk have control of gold mines, superior weapons supplied by an Asian people called the Celestials and are well-educated. Influenced by civilization in Washington where he travelled to parley with the President Howahkan understands that change is inevitable if any kind of lasting peace is to be forged between the nations. Well-written and vividly descriptive the reader is swept into the heart the Beothuk village with its customs, culture, history and storytelling.
The plot is fast-paced and action-packed as events unfold; the tension and suspense unrelenting as Howahkan not only prepares for war, but desperately tries to deflect the growing rebellion of Taloka and his Patriots who are determined to take over leadership of the Beothuk. Only the blossoming love affair between the impressionable army lieutenant and Howahkan's non-conformist granddaughter, and between a man of faith and a young Indian maiden dilute the chaos and violence.
The personalities of the characters are as well-developed, complex and unforgettable as the plot, especially Lieutenant Michael Wagner, the Ambassador to the Beothuk who's eager, confident, and open-minded and Kimimela a female warrior who's capable, self-assured and well-educated, speaking more languages than her soldier lover. Howahkan who's patient, wise, compassionate and well-respected strongly contrasts with Taloka, the leader of the rebels who's self-oriented and deluded. Into a mix of characters who add to the drama, passion, energy and realism of this story add Major Frederick Scott Bentley the military commander who kow-tows to government bureaucracy waging war against the Beothuk. He's arrogant, deceptive and without conscience.
I thoroughly enjoyed Harlan Hague's "The People" and thank the author for sending me a copy to review. It's a fascinating and inventive history of a confederation of tribes struggling to maintain their identity and land in the American frontier. I highly recommend it to history buffs who would like to read about the past with a different outcome.
April 27, 2020
A ‘fanciful retelling’ of the settling of the Old American West. Harlan Hague’s The People centers on the Great Plains area where the Native Americans have lived for a great many years, and the time the pioneers began to move west to live, and hopefully, provide better lives for their families. The author has taken great liberties with the actual history as he “did not wish to offend any particular tribe”. He chose The People called Beothuk from late 15th c. Newfoundland who had interactions with Europeans and moved them to the Great Plains area. Actually, the Beothuk ‘or ancestors of the Beothuk had “clashed” as early as 1000 AD with the Norse. The novel has a ‘what if’ theme. Howahkan, one of the ‘principal’ Beothuk chiefs, realizes change is coming to his ‘homeland’. He suggests Nations come together as a confederation to reach peace with The United States. The Army already has Fort Andrew Jackson functioning not far from the Beothuk land. What if this confederation had access to greater weapons and the ability to pay for them? The fort sends an ambassador to live with the Beothuk, and he falls in love with Howahkan’s granddaughter. Their relationship mirrors the plans for peace, but not all members of the Nation agree with the plans for peace. This story reminds me a bit of the movie, Dances with Wolves. Such possibilities! I enjoyed this book immensely. If only? 4.75 stars
December 3, 2014
Again this is a genre that I read only on spur of the moment occasions, and it came as a recommendation from a fellow Goodreads member.
The Indians have come into possession of MODERN weapons, not to be seen until WWII, thanks to a group of sympathetic aliens. As ridiculous as it might sound, it somehow works. Of course it help that the author Harlan Hague, is a retired history professor with writing experience, and he did a good job of pulling off a blend of an alternate history of the frontier with the inventiveness of science fiction.
The author did a wonderful job weaving historical facts with fictitious characters to create a believable tale of the struggle between two cultures. This is something that I personally applaud, since my own novels The Plain of Jars and Journey Towards a Falling Sun follows a very similar formula.
The Indians have come into possession of MODERN weapons, not to be seen until WWII, thanks to a group of sympathetic aliens. As ridiculous as it might sound, it somehow works. Of course it help that the author Harlan Hague, is a retired history professor with writing experience, and he did a good job of pulling off a blend of an alternate history of the frontier with the inventiveness of science fiction.
The author did a wonderful job weaving historical facts with fictitious characters to create a believable tale of the struggle between two cultures. This is something that I personally applaud, since my own novels The Plain of Jars and Journey Towards a Falling Sun follows a very similar formula.
July 3, 2015
It was interesting reading until it got to magical beliefs of the various people. The magic was just to hard to believe. The thoughts of the people meeting with strangers were believable and of course their fears and actions.
September 23, 2014
* Copy via Goodreads First Reads and the author *
Interesting concept, but ultimately it didn't hold my interest enough for me to finish it.
Interesting concept, but ultimately it didn't hold my interest enough for me to finish it.
December 2, 2015
Won in GFR and glad I did!
December 6, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Loved Harlan's concept of re-writing history! Great read from start to finish!! ;D
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews