Pemmican

by Vardis Fisher

Kill or get killed was what a fur trader could expect in the Hudson Bay territory in 1815.

Rival trading companies were engaged in a murderous feud for trading rights, and bloodthirsty Indians were scalping any white man in sight.

This was what faced David McDonald, a vigorous young trader for the Hudson's Bay Company. This and freezing blizzards and herds of stampeding buffalo that covered the horizon and trampled everything in their path.

But for David the prize was more than the fur trade. He had seen a savage, wildly beautiful white girl in the Blackfoot camp, and he was determined to have her.

All he had to do was tame her--and kill the Blackfoot chief who coveted her.

Cover art by Daniel Schwartz

Genres: Westerns, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1956

About the author

Vardis Alvero Fisher was a writer best known for his popular historical novels of the Old West. He also wrote the monumental 12-volume Testament of Man (1943–1960) series of novels, depicting the history of humans from cave to civilization. It was considered controversial because of his portrayal of religion, especially the Judeo-Christian tradition, emphasis on sexuality, and conclusions about anthropology.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the early 1800s in "the Hudson's Bay Territory," this is the kind of Western I most enjoy. It's a story of men trying to survive under the harshest conditions. In this case, the situation is made even worse by the fierce competition between the two fur-trading companies, the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Co. The HBC was first in the area, having been given a charter by the king in the 17th Century. But the Northwesters were more aggressive, pushing into HBC territory and gaining influence with the Indians.
David McDonald is the protagonist of the story, a young Scotsman working for the HBC. Upon seeing a lovely white woman in the Blackfoot camp, he falls in love with her and the story centers on his attempts to win her over. He also survives various ordeals in the struggle against the Northwesters and their Indian allies. We see the great frontier of western Canada as an arena in which only the fittest can survive.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classical adventure and romance with a history lesson built in. Ate it up. I'm going to read all of Fisher's works.

[Emmanuel Isaiah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

{Goodreads Description is as follows}

"Kill or get killed was what a fur trader could expect in the Hudson Bay territory in 1815.

Rival trading companies were engaged in a murderous feud for trading rights, and bloodthirsty Indians were scalping any white man in sight.

This was what faced David McDonald, a vigorous young trader for the Hudson's Bay Company. This and freezing blizzards and herds of stampeding buffalo that covered the horizon and trampled everything in their path.

But for David the prize was more than the fur trade. He had seen a savage, wildly beautiful white girl in the Blackfoot camp, and he was determined to have her.

All he had to do was tame her--and kill the Blackfoot chief who coveted her.

Cover art by Daniel Schwartz"

[Amberae · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first westerns I've read. Surprisingly a wonderful read, although it takes about half the book to gain it's pace. Violent, poetic, manly... But also rudely unsettling when it comes to the portrayal of the american Indian. Sometimes there is admiration, but many times there are descriptions of how violent, misogynistic, and drunk the people are. this is how the author chooses to portray native Americans. It could have been when it was written, the stereotype was rampant around the time. Still though, it's a wonderful story of survival, lust and eventual love.