Prelude to Glory, Vol. 4: The Hand of Providence

Prelude to Glory #4

by Ron Carter

In 1777, aiming to crush the American rebellion and win for himself a lasting fame, British General John Burgoyne sets out from Canada with a massive army. Losing the help of his Indian allies and slowed by the nearly impassable terrain, the flamboyant Burgoyne finds himself locked in the battle of his life at a place called Saratoga. There, under the heroic leadership of General Benedict Arnold, the rustic American force claims an unlikely victory, and a turning point is reached in the American Revolution. Filled with heart-pounding action and true stories of intrigue, bravery, and patriotism, Volume 4 of Prelude to Glory captures the high adventure of America's quest for independence, a struggle that would have surely failed except for the hand of Providence.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Lds, Religion, Lds Fiction, American History

681 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2000

About the author

Ron Carter (1932-2008) was born in Salt Lake City and reared in Twin Falls, Idaho. He served received a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Brigham Young University. He received a juris doctor degree in 1962 after attending the law schools at George Washington University and the University of Utah. Recently he has been a research and writing director for the Superior Court system of Los Angeles County, California. He published his first work in 1988.

Ron is married to LaRae Dunn Carter of Boise, Idaho, and they are the parents of nine children. The family resides in Park City, Utah.

Reviews

[Rex Cluff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth volume of this series is just as captivating as the first three. The greatest take from this volume is the political and personal intrigue going on inside the military ranks. I am particularly impressed with the sympathy expressed toward the many insults and offenses given toward Benedict Arnold and his many accomplishments. I did a report on Gen. Arnold when I was in junior high school and learned then that he was not given due credit for his accomplishments. While treason is never acceptable, it is at least understandable how he became disaffected. He never disparaged Gen. Washington but he had little regard for others who slighted him including congress. Congress was being swayed by the useless and jealous generals who were promoted over him. Nevertheless, I am glad that Mr. Carter highlighted all that Gen. Arnold did in this time frame of the revolutionary war. The closing scene where Eli finds his sister was worthy of a flood of joyful tears.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 4th book in the Prelude to Glory series. I love historical fiction and this series tells about the different areas that were in conflict with the British, Indians and Germans during the Revolutionary war. It has accurate names of governing people in Pennsylvania, generals and other people of the time featured with their quotes and the actual happenings in the wars and areas they were in. It is very well written. There are several more volumes.

[Leslie Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both sides are continually fighting. Each side thinks they are right. The American colonists fight for freedom. The British fight for control. Some battles are won by the British, some by the Americans. The heroic fight of General Benedict Arnold is astounding. He went in there to fight even when General Gates commanded him to stay back. It was because of Arnold that the British surrendered. The French now sign a contract to enter the war with them against the British.

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading the series. Historical and fictional characters are well written and believable. I had trouble keeping track of all the different officers on both sides but I think this was mostly because I had to start and stop reading so very many times. If I could’ve sat down and read more pages at a time it would have been fine.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story continues about the sacrifices of wonderful people and their determination to have a free America. So grateful for the men and women that sacrificed for that...and continues to this day to keep America free.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume was an abridged reading of the book unlike the earlier volumes which were unabridged. I really miss the commentary at the end of each chapter telling what was real and what was fiction. Still a good listen but now it has lost a little as all abridgements do.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in this series! So much good information that I did not know. If you want to know more about the revolutionary war, this is the series for you!!

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book.

[Carolyn Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fictional family during the Revolutionary War.

[Thomas C.Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books always take me a while, but I always find them well worth the read. I do find that they bring me closer to God as I understand His role in the establishment of our American country.

[Irene Anderson]

learned a lot about the revolutionary war

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read too much like a history book dialogue. The fictional characters weren’t even mentioned for long sections. I felt there was too much military detail, and the story moved slow.

[Kaye Sivori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, to follow the history or our independence makes you realize, it wasn't cheap. Men fought heroically for it! Thank you forefathers!!!

[Hilaree · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 3.75. This one lagged a bit but then had major turning points setting up for the next book. A bridge

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much of the story is told without the fictional family that it’s unclear why the author didn’t include them more. Also occasional legends that lack historical evidence creep in.

[Brett Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the focus on the northern campaign. The book was long but engaging and I enjoyed it a lot.

[DannyD1 Durney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hand of Providence by Ron Carter is a historical fiction book about the Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne is moving down the Hudson river with Joseph Brant, leader of the indians, to separate the northern states from the southern, and crush the Revolution. Billy Weems and Eli Stroud have been ordered by General George Washington to stop Brant and the Indians from joining the British side. Meanwhile, General Burgoyne is laying siege on Fort Ticonderoga, and General Sir William Howe is marching north to meet Burgoyne and finally stop the Revolution. This book was a little slow at the beginning, but as it caught interest, The pages seemed to fly by, and the characters became real, vivid people. One thing I didn't like is that the book introduced a lot of new characters. It was hard to adjust between situations. I did like the way Billy and Eli responded to the many different challenges. I liked the theme it showed throughout the book of freedom being worth fighting for. Overall this book was very interesting and always had something new to show.

[Heritage Bliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would read this nine volume series again, if only for this book. This book is phenomenal historical-fiction. This’ll likely be the only review I write for the series, unless I re-read the books, because too much happens throughout their course, but it is a wonderful portrayal of the American Revolution.

Book is marked as LDS, which doesn’t make a lot of sense outside of the marketing niche, considering the LDS didn’t exist in the time period this book is based off of and are not ever mentioned in any of the texts for that very reason. Maybe the author is, but the book isn’t. What this book does have is a solid yet unobtrusive portrayal of how religion affected the early stages of the country.

That aside, this book is as much about the Iroquois as it is the British and the Americans, and, as always, all sides are equally justified (by the writing in the text, if not morally). There are good people on all sides of things, people to care about, and that is the exemplary takeaway from this series. It is treated benevolently as the tale of the venerated story that it is, in which every character written into reality by the threads of history is treated with the care a storyteller might give to his own fictional characters.

Battle of Saratoga kills in the very best way. Literally, too. In the very worst way? I suppose. Benedict Arnold has what is typically called a character arc, and he was even a real person, I think. The Iroquois focus does wonders. They were a large aspect of the battles that this book hones in on and they play a splendid part in all of them. The dynamic between the two fictional main characters is developed better than almost every other fictional friendship I’ve read, which is astonishing considering every fictional character is singularly representative of a large majority of people living in the time period.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the sweltering summer of 1777, and flamboyant British General John Burgoyne has been sent by King George III to command a force of some eight thousand British and German troups in the war raging in the rebellious American colonies. His task? To proceed south from Quebec and lay siege to and capture Fort Ticonderoga. With the British thus in charge of the important Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor, "Gentleman Johnny" reckons it will be a simple matter to proceed to Albany and join his force with those of General William Howe and Colonel Barry St. Leger. Together, they will mount a campaign to cut the New England states off from those farther south, then one by one defeat them.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am learning so much of Revolutionary War history as I read this Prelude to Glory series by Ron Carter! I feel so badly that all that I was taught of Benedict Arnold throughout my grade school life was that he was a traitor. He was an amazing hero of the Revolution before he made the bad choice. If General Gates would have listened to him more and not worried so much of playing the politics he felt would catapult himself over George Washington, many lives would have been saved on both sides. This volume focused on the war relating to Fort Ticonderoga and ends with the battle at Saratoga where the Revolutionary War found its turning point.

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this whole series because it allowed me to learn much more about our countries beginnings than I ever learned in school--but I enjoyed it this time. A fictional family and their friends make the journey through the revolutionary war and on into the establishment of the United States government and the rough economic times that followed the war. Book 9 jumps ahead in time to the war of 1812.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a wonderful job of bringing history to life in his writing. I like how he incorporates his characters into actual historical events. Every chapter is followed by documentation of what is fact. The research to write this series is amazing. These books remind me of "The Work and the Glory" series. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is that I have a hard time reading about the suffering, cruelty and sadness of war.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

4th book in the Prelude to Glory Series. Where is the love story from the first book?? This continues with the battles from the Revolutionary War, and finally the Americans are starting to win a little. This book held my attention a lot better than the last book, with more positive outcomes for the GOOD GUYS.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got a little slow in the middle...but I just pick up another book for a little while when that happens. However, I LOVED the end. Learned SO MUCH about Benedict Arnold. What a great man. It helped me understand what lead up to his traiting against us a little bit. I love what I'm learning in these books! They may not be the fastest pace, but they are so interesting.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me a LONG time to get through. The detail and shifting scenes and venues got a little tiring - but I enjoyed learning more about the revolution and will continue on with the series... after a small break.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun series with a great mix of well researhed history of the US Revolutionary War (with footnotes) and fictional personal items to bring the story to life. The fictional characters are well placed to bring the story out.

[Kristen Weller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every story, every battle, makes it clear that someone else was controlling things during the Revolution. Even the battles lost- there was always a way for them to retreat without losing the entire army. Wow.

[Kathi Salter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent series about the Revolutionary War. It is a historical fiction. Carter has a lot of the same writing style as Gerald Lund. It has a good story line and lots of information you learn of American history along the way. Don't forget to read the footnotes. They are insightful.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was so amazing to help me grasp the feel for the Revolutionary War.

[Stefie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good end to a good ride.