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Carey Family #7
Mohawk Valley
Sent down from Cambridge in 1755 after fighting a duel amid false accusations of cheating at cards, Alan Carey is sent to the colony of New York by his father the Earl to look into his estates in the Mohawk Valley.
It’s a life-changing experience. Alan, already a physical bear of a man, grows in moral stature as he deals with the problem of a dishonest bailiff, learns the ways of the virgin forest, overcomes hostile Indians and, with his newly acquired knowledge of the terrain, is able to render invaluable service to General Wolfe during the capture of Quebec.
It’s a life-changing experience. Alan, already a physical bear of a man, grows in moral stature as he deals with the problem of a dishonest bailiff, learns the ways of the virgin forest, overcomes hostile Indians and, with his newly acquired knowledge of the terrain, is able to render invaluable service to General Wolfe during the capture of Quebec.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1958
59 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Welch
23 books22 followersRonald Welch is the pen name of Ronald Felton, author of twelve historical novels for children. After reading history at Cambridge, he taught at Bedford Modern School and then became headmaster of Okehampton Grammar School in Devon. He was awarded the Carnegie Medal forKnight Crusader in 1954 which is to be serialized in Story Time on BBC on 4th July, 1972. His interest in military history stems from his family background and his service in The Welch Regiment during the 1939–45 war.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 4, 2022
Falsely accused of cheating at cards, Alan Carey—the younger son of the Earl of Aubigny—finds himself embroiled in a disastrous duel with his accuser, and is sent down from Cambridge. At a loose end, and considerably disturbed by his own seeming "cowardice," as a result of his confused conduct during the duel, Alan is dispatched by his father to the colony of New York, there to inspect the earl's property in the Mohawk Valley. Finding in backwoodsman Jake Winter an excellent guide and companion, Alan sets out for the Ashwater property, where he must contend with the dishonest bailiff, Mr. Hepburn, and set matters to rights. Working to improve the property, he eventually is caught up in the events of the French and Indian War, witnessing the death of Lord Howe at the Battle of Carillon, and fighting with General Wolfe's forces during the struggle to capture Quebec...
The seventh of Ronald Welch's novels devoted to the adventures of the noble Carey family over many centuries of English history—loosely connected, this "series" is now organized by historical chronology, rather than by publication date—Mohawk Valley is an engaging work of historical fiction, and a worthy addition to the "Carey Family Chronicles." I found Alan a likable and engaging hero, and appreciated the way in which his new life, so far from "civilization," gave him a sense of purpose that he had been lacking, in England. Although not explicitly explored by the author in the narrative, I thought there was some oblique commentary here about America as a place for those who just didn't quite "fit," back in the old country. The story itself is gripping, as is always the case with Welch's books, and I was immediately engrossed in it, once I began. I did find it unlikely that Alan's entire friend set from Cambridge would have reassembled in frontier New York, thus allowing him to resolve the false accusation against him, and to clear his name, but I could suspend my disbelief well enough. A more discordant note, for me, was the dated depiction of the native peoples of the region, chiefly Mohawks and "Algonkins." In a reversal that felt a little less than believable to me, it was Alan who had the more fair-minded approach, as opposed to Jake Winter, who, despite living in the region, was far more hostile, both to the enemy Algonkins and to the allied Mohawk. Of course, Alan being a Welch hero, he would have to be fair-minded, but I couldn't help but feel that it was the colonial who would have been more likely to be comfortable with native peoples. I was also puzzled and rather put off by the depiction of the Mohawk village, which was described as dirty and smelly, with homes that were "bark huts," rather than the expected longhouse.
Despite these dated elements, I would recommend Mohawk Valley, both to Ronald Welch fans, and to young historical fiction readers interested in stories set during the French and Indian War.
The seventh of Ronald Welch's novels devoted to the adventures of the noble Carey family over many centuries of English history—loosely connected, this "series" is now organized by historical chronology, rather than by publication date—Mohawk Valley is an engaging work of historical fiction, and a worthy addition to the "Carey Family Chronicles." I found Alan a likable and engaging hero, and appreciated the way in which his new life, so far from "civilization," gave him a sense of purpose that he had been lacking, in England. Although not explicitly explored by the author in the narrative, I thought there was some oblique commentary here about America as a place for those who just didn't quite "fit," back in the old country. The story itself is gripping, as is always the case with Welch's books, and I was immediately engrossed in it, once I began. I did find it unlikely that Alan's entire friend set from Cambridge would have reassembled in frontier New York, thus allowing him to resolve the false accusation against him, and to clear his name, but I could suspend my disbelief well enough. A more discordant note, for me, was the dated depiction of the native peoples of the region, chiefly Mohawks and "Algonkins." In a reversal that felt a little less than believable to me, it was Alan who had the more fair-minded approach, as opposed to Jake Winter, who, despite living in the region, was far more hostile, both to the enemy Algonkins and to the allied Mohawk. Of course, Alan being a Welch hero, he would have to be fair-minded, but I couldn't help but feel that it was the colonial who would have been more likely to be comfortable with native peoples. I was also puzzled and rather put off by the depiction of the Mohawk village, which was described as dirty and smelly, with homes that were "bark huts," rather than the expected longhouse.
Despite these dated elements, I would recommend Mohawk Valley, both to Ronald Welch fans, and to young historical fiction readers interested in stories set during the French and Indian War.
February 17, 2017
(Review originally posted at Vintage Novels).
Thanks to the good folks at Slightly Foxed , my adventures through history with Ronald Welch's Carey Family continues...
In Mohawk Valley, young Alan Carey is forced to leave Cambridge in disgrace after being accused of cheating at cards. Expelled from the college and a pariah among his erstwhile friends, Alan heads back to the ancestral home at Llanstephan to face his father, the formidable old Charles Carey familiar to readers from Captain of Dragoons . The Earl, together with his friend Mr William Pitt, comes up with a plan: ship Alan across the Atlantic to make his fortune and repair his reputation taking care of the Earl's properties on the American frontier. Once in America, Alan finds his hands full learning woodcraft and dealing with untrustworthy stewards. But not all is peaceful in the backwoods, and political maneuverings in London and Paris threaten to bring war on the frontier.
You guessed it: this is the book about the French and Indian War. Overall, I have to say that this is my least favourite of the Carey Family series so far. The plot was more episodic than most of Welch's other books, and I didn't at all care for the portrayal of one of the villains as a Scripture-quoting fanatic who first cheats and then attempts to murder our hero. The New England Puritans had their oddities, especially as time went on, but as a general rule they were sincere, law-abiding people, and I felt that by making their sole representative in this book a villain, Welch was trying to say something about the Puritans, and sincere religious faith, as a whole.
Still, there was plenty to like about Mohawk Valley. Ronald Welch wrote for young people, especially young boys, but I usually find his books full of thoughtfulness on topics of maturity and manhood. One thing that I think all his books have in common is that they challenge their young heroes, and through them the readers, with difficult decisions and tasks. And one of the reasons why this is so challenging to the reader is that Welch does a very good job of showing how difficult his heroes find their tasks: he writes sympathetically to their fears and doubts in such a way that he seems sympathetic to the fears and doubts of the reader too.
So, in Mohawk Valley, Alan Carey faces nearly the most depressing fate for any young member of the English nobility: when he elects to fight a duel to clear his name, his nerves fail him and he drops his pistol, convincing everyone present that he's not just a cheat but also a coward. Alan heads home convinced that he's shamed not just himself but also his family name and his swashbuckling old father. The rest of the book is about how he rediscovers his courage and self-respect, even as he relinquishes his status as an English nobleman for the harsher and more egalitarian life of an American backwoodsman. There's more than one way of being brave, and more than one way of being noble, the book seems to say: if you fail at one thing, pick yourself up and try another. I can imagine that being a fairly encouraging thing for a young man to read.
The last third or so of the book is taken up with the French and Indian War, with fairly detailed accounts of the battle of Ticonderoga and the fall of Quebec. As usual, Welch writes about wars without criticising the diplomatic decisions that cause them, but his battle scenes are always vivid, visceral and intensely serious.
Mohawk Valley may not be my favourite Welch book, but it contains all the things that make the rest of the series worth reading: historical detail, military realism, and sympathetic characters facing tough decisions. The series is currently in print in beautiful limited editions available from Slightly Foxed - particularly recommended for home educators!
Thanks to the good folks at Slightly Foxed , my adventures through history with Ronald Welch's Carey Family continues...
In Mohawk Valley, young Alan Carey is forced to leave Cambridge in disgrace after being accused of cheating at cards. Expelled from the college and a pariah among his erstwhile friends, Alan heads back to the ancestral home at Llanstephan to face his father, the formidable old Charles Carey familiar to readers from Captain of Dragoons . The Earl, together with his friend Mr William Pitt, comes up with a plan: ship Alan across the Atlantic to make his fortune and repair his reputation taking care of the Earl's properties on the American frontier. Once in America, Alan finds his hands full learning woodcraft and dealing with untrustworthy stewards. But not all is peaceful in the backwoods, and political maneuverings in London and Paris threaten to bring war on the frontier.
You guessed it: this is the book about the French and Indian War. Overall, I have to say that this is my least favourite of the Carey Family series so far. The plot was more episodic than most of Welch's other books, and I didn't at all care for the portrayal of one of the villains as a Scripture-quoting fanatic who first cheats and then attempts to murder our hero. The New England Puritans had their oddities, especially as time went on, but as a general rule they were sincere, law-abiding people, and I felt that by making their sole representative in this book a villain, Welch was trying to say something about the Puritans, and sincere religious faith, as a whole.
Still, there was plenty to like about Mohawk Valley. Ronald Welch wrote for young people, especially young boys, but I usually find his books full of thoughtfulness on topics of maturity and manhood. One thing that I think all his books have in common is that they challenge their young heroes, and through them the readers, with difficult decisions and tasks. And one of the reasons why this is so challenging to the reader is that Welch does a very good job of showing how difficult his heroes find their tasks: he writes sympathetically to their fears and doubts in such a way that he seems sympathetic to the fears and doubts of the reader too.
So, in Mohawk Valley, Alan Carey faces nearly the most depressing fate for any young member of the English nobility: when he elects to fight a duel to clear his name, his nerves fail him and he drops his pistol, convincing everyone present that he's not just a cheat but also a coward. Alan heads home convinced that he's shamed not just himself but also his family name and his swashbuckling old father. The rest of the book is about how he rediscovers his courage and self-respect, even as he relinquishes his status as an English nobleman for the harsher and more egalitarian life of an American backwoodsman. There's more than one way of being brave, and more than one way of being noble, the book seems to say: if you fail at one thing, pick yourself up and try another. I can imagine that being a fairly encouraging thing for a young man to read.
The last third or so of the book is taken up with the French and Indian War, with fairly detailed accounts of the battle of Ticonderoga and the fall of Quebec. As usual, Welch writes about wars without criticising the diplomatic decisions that cause them, but his battle scenes are always vivid, visceral and intensely serious.
Mohawk Valley may not be my favourite Welch book, but it contains all the things that make the rest of the series worth reading: historical detail, military realism, and sympathetic characters facing tough decisions. The series is currently in print in beautiful limited editions available from Slightly Foxed - particularly recommended for home educators!
June 9, 2022
3.5 stars.
June 10, 2022
A very different Carey, though by the end he's just as admirable as the rest of them. I felt that Welch did a disservice to Alan's father, the Earl, making him too much of a washed up has-been nattering on and on about his glory days at Blenheim with The Duke. There were some good little connections with earlier books, going all the way back to Knight Crusader.
The North American setting is a refreshing change, but it's a bit hard to believe that with the vastness of the British Empire, all the old Cambridge crowd convene in exactly the same outpost.
The North American setting is a refreshing change, but it's a bit hard to believe that with the vastness of the British Empire, all the old Cambridge crowd convene in exactly the same outpost.
April 29, 2019
Read this from the school library many years back, really pleased to find that Slightly Foxed Books have brought the whole series back into print.
The series are a set of vividly written and accurately researched historical adventure stories, set against the major wars of history following the fortunes of members of the Carey family. Starts in the crusades, ends at WW1. This book is about the campaign of the British against the French around Lake Champlain, based on the likeable character of a young Alan Carey, who travels to America to look after the family estates.
This was a campaign not covered at school in the UK, so I would have known nothing about it without this book. This gives a feel for the life of colonial settlers, what it is like to be a woodsman, the difficulties of European armies in dealing with fighting in tangled woodland and some of the notable moments and characters of the war.
What I am now struck by - and it is a small part of the book which was first published in 1958 so is of its period - is the references to negro servants and interactions with Native Americans. It is not deliberately disrespectful (at least to my level of understanding) but am flagging just in case it might cause offence to some people. To my level of understanding, I thought the information on the different Native American tribes and their varying alliances with each other and with the British or the French was interesting - they are not written as cardboard cut-out baddies. Indeed the British and white American characters include a whole range from considerate to bigoted. I really enjoyed this re-read, and would have given a five star if it wasn't for my concerns about this relatively small section of the book.
The series are a set of vividly written and accurately researched historical adventure stories, set against the major wars of history following the fortunes of members of the Carey family. Starts in the crusades, ends at WW1. This book is about the campaign of the British against the French around Lake Champlain, based on the likeable character of a young Alan Carey, who travels to America to look after the family estates.
This was a campaign not covered at school in the UK, so I would have known nothing about it without this book. This gives a feel for the life of colonial settlers, what it is like to be a woodsman, the difficulties of European armies in dealing with fighting in tangled woodland and some of the notable moments and characters of the war.
What I am now struck by - and it is a small part of the book which was first published in 1958 so is of its period - is the references to negro servants and interactions with Native Americans. It is not deliberately disrespectful (at least to my level of understanding) but am flagging just in case it might cause offence to some people. To my level of understanding, I thought the information on the different Native American tribes and their varying alliances with each other and with the British or the French was interesting - they are not written as cardboard cut-out baddies. Indeed the British and white American characters include a whole range from considerate to bigoted. I really enjoyed this re-read, and would have given a five star if it wasn't for my concerns about this relatively small section of the book.
Read
July 26, 2021In this entry in the Carey family series, the young man of the family is falsely accused of cheating at cards and leaves the country for the family estate in New York. I love the idea and the production values of these books, and the writing is not bad, but the stories fall flat for me. This one is a particularly insensitive demonstration of Brits feeling entitled to conquer the world (lording it over the native Americans, of course, but also French Canadians in the battle for Quebec). Like the other Carey books I've read so far, this one is totally male-centric in a preteen sort of way; the men seem to have no sexual feelings at all and women are almost completely absent from their world. Boys may find this all terribly exciting (my son loves it) but it bores me quickly. I'd far rather have some interesting drawing room conversation than yet another battle.
May 27, 2018
Not my favourite of the Carey books, but a fun, fast read.
These books are written for children and the history is, as ever, impeccable. However, my favourite aspect is that his heroes are real people. They feel scared, they feel hopeless, and they try their best anyway. The plots challenge the hero, and the reader, to think about they would cope with a difficult decision and to think about growing up and making the best of what the world gives them.
The new editions by Slightly Foxed are also beautiful objects in their own right and very worth owning!
These books are written for children and the history is, as ever, impeccable. However, my favourite aspect is that his heroes are real people. They feel scared, they feel hopeless, and they try their best anyway. The plots challenge the hero, and the reader, to think about they would cope with a difficult decision and to think about growing up and making the best of what the world gives them.
The new editions by Slightly Foxed are also beautiful objects in their own right and very worth owning!
September 12, 2017
Always felt this was a little different than the rest of the Carey books - a very different sort of Carey, but re-reading after many years (finally got a copy) it was brilliant
May 10, 2024
5 stars for the young adult age group. As for all of of Ronald Welch's books, he follows the history quite well.
August 6, 2013
Enjoyed Welch as a writer for young adults - it was children's fiction in my day.
Preferred the earlier period, but this one set at the time of Wolfe and Montcalm was still quite good
Preferred the earlier period, but this one set at the time of Wolfe and Montcalm was still quite good
December 28, 2020
Boys Own adventure fun.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews