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The Firekeeper: A Narrative of the New York Frontier
An epic adventure based on the extraordinary historical story of Sir William Johnson and the author’s dreams of a Mohawk “woman of power” who lived three centuries ago.
“To read The Firekeeper is to be transported to another time and place, and leave it measurably enlightened.” — James A. Michener
The Firekeeper brings alive the world in which America was born, when the clash of empires produced the first worldwide war and Albany, New York, was the Casablanca of the age. Filled with great men—George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, the Mohawk Hendrick Tehayanoken—and the battles that opened the way for the American Revolution, The Firekeeper follows the exploits of Sir William Johnson, an Irish adventurer with a rage for life, who created a tribal kingdom on the New York frontier.
Johnson defended the First Peoples against white men who were bent on genocide and led the Mohawks into battle on the English side in the French and Indian War. His story is interwoven with those of three extraordinary Catherine Weissenberg, the Palatine German girl who fled the wars of the Old World to make a life with Johnson in the Mohawk Valley; Island Woman, a Mohawk shaman and mother of the Wolf Clan; and her granddaughter, known to history as Molly Brant, the only woman who managed to tame Johnson. With Island Woman, we journey deep into the dream practices and ways of healing of the Onkwehonwe, the Real People, and through her The Firekeeper also becomes the indelible story of a native people’s struggle for survival, and of how dreaming can bring the soul back home.
“Some rare novels defy labels. The Firekeeper is such a book. An intricately detailed historical novel, a mystical journey, a breathtaking adventure tale, and a passionate exploration of the human heart. This is a book to savor when you truly want to lose yourself in another world.” — Morgan Llywelyn, author of Lion of Ireland
“To read The Firekeeper is to be transported to another time and place, and leave it measurably enlightened.” — James A. Michener
The Firekeeper brings alive the world in which America was born, when the clash of empires produced the first worldwide war and Albany, New York, was the Casablanca of the age. Filled with great men—George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, the Mohawk Hendrick Tehayanoken—and the battles that opened the way for the American Revolution, The Firekeeper follows the exploits of Sir William Johnson, an Irish adventurer with a rage for life, who created a tribal kingdom on the New York frontier.
Johnson defended the First Peoples against white men who were bent on genocide and led the Mohawks into battle on the English side in the French and Indian War. His story is interwoven with those of three extraordinary Catherine Weissenberg, the Palatine German girl who fled the wars of the Old World to make a life with Johnson in the Mohawk Valley; Island Woman, a Mohawk shaman and mother of the Wolf Clan; and her granddaughter, known to history as Molly Brant, the only woman who managed to tame Johnson. With Island Woman, we journey deep into the dream practices and ways of healing of the Onkwehonwe, the Real People, and through her The Firekeeper also becomes the indelible story of a native people’s struggle for survival, and of how dreaming can bring the soul back home.
“Some rare novels defy labels. The Firekeeper is such a book. An intricately detailed historical novel, a mystical journey, a breathtaking adventure tale, and a passionate exploration of the human heart. This is a book to savor when you truly want to lose yourself in another world.” — Morgan Llywelyn, author of Lion of Ireland
- GenresHistorical Fiction
513 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 19, 2020
In the mode of James Michener, The Firekeeper traces the histories of two families through a generation, from early 1700s to the Seven Years War (1756-63). Moss draws on many real sources to bring that era and colonial America to life, not just for the settlers, but for the French and Canadians and many of the nations of natives. It's a lifelike and revealing account that weaves storytelling into true history. Great read!
January 12, 2023
If you enjoy historical fiction and tales of Native American tribes, this one is for you. At times gruesome, at times mystical, it is essentially a story of one man and his many loves: one main spirited woman with more pluck than most, his love for adventure, dominance, dignity and alas, many more women.
Moss, an historian, did a stellar job of bringing the early days of our nation's struggle to vivid life. I was surprised that the native warriors were so vain!
Moss, an historian, did a stellar job of bringing the early days of our nation's struggle to vivid life. I was surprised that the native warriors were so vain!
June 8, 2011
The Firekeeper focuses on the life of William Johnson, a leading British agent who traded and negotiated with the Iroquois in the New York frontier before, during and after the French and Indian War. Moss does a great job of fully immersing the reader in the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of settler cultures (English, French and Dutch) as well as the Mohawks. He also conveys Mohawk spirituality and customs in vivid ways, almost crossing the line into magical and mystical elements but not so much that I would consider this a "historical fantasy."
The characters are fully developed, understandable yet authentic to the period. Moss skillfully weaves several subplots together to achieve suspense across the story's epic scale. I'd recommend it most of all, though, for the feeling of verisimilitude and sensory detail.
The characters are fully developed, understandable yet authentic to the period. Moss skillfully weaves several subplots together to achieve suspense across the story's epic scale. I'd recommend it most of all, though, for the feeling of verisimilitude and sensory detail.
November 26, 2016
This a beautiful narrative of the years leading up to the French and Indian Wars. More, it is the story of people who lived the period in what is now upstate New York and Canada. The relationships among the varied cultures is the powerful glue to this book. It is not a history lesson per se. It is more true than the history because it is the story of human existence. If you love history, especially history of the early years of European presence on this continent, I think you will really like this. If you are interested in reading about the depths of human connections, you will love this.
June 25, 2008
This was...OK. I did not feel much for the characters, but I learned a lot of really interesting history about the settlement of the Hudson Valley.
May 17, 2010
Great book on NYS in the 1700's, historic novel with mystic twist. Always nice to see Mexico, NY mentioned in a book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews