Valley Forge

by MacKinlay Kantor

Our men, our women, great and common - soldiers, statesmen, lovers, wives, and children - wintering, hungering, boldly achieving in the bravest moment of our country's history. Valley Forge - by McKinklay Kantor - the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author of Andersonville brings you a masterpiece of America's greatest struggle!

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Benjamin McKinlay Kantor, was an American journalist, novelist and screenwriter. He wrote more than 30 novels, several set during the American Civil War, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1956 for his 1955 novel Andersonville

Kantor was born in Webster City, Iowa, in 1904. His mother, a journalist, encouraged Kantor to develop his writing style. Kantor started writing seriously as a teen-ager when he worked as a reporter with his mother at the local newspaper in Webster City.

Kantor's first novel was published when he was 24.

During World War II, Kantor reported from London as a war correspondent for a Los Angeles newspaper. After flying on several bombing missions, he asked for and received training to operate the bomber's turret machine guns (this was illegal, as he was not in service).
Nevertheless he was decorated with the Medal of Freedom by Gen. Carl Spaatz, then the U.S. Army Air Corp commander. He also saw combat during the Korean War as a correspondent.

In addition to journalism and novels, Kantor wrote the screenplay for Gun Crazy (aka Deadly Is the Female) (1950), a noted film noir. It was based on his short story by the same name, published February 3, 1940 in a "slick" magazine, The Saturday Evening Post. In 1992, it was revealed that he had allowed his name to be used on a screenplay written by Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood Ten, who had been blacklisted as a result of his refusal to testify before the House Un-American Committee (HUAC) hearings. Kantor passed his payment on to Trumbo to help him survive.

Several of his novels were adapted for films. He established his own publishing house, and published several of his works in the 1930s and 1940s.

Kantor died of a heart attack in 1977, at the age of 73, at his home in Sarasota, Florida.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because of going to Valley Forge and meeting General Washington at the winter encampment. He wouldn't shake my hand, insisting a lady should curtsy and a gentleman bow. We did and I was enthralled. It was dark and we walked out to the huts on a path lit by candles. The huts were open with fires going in each one. Yes, it was re-enactors, but I loved the whole experience. This book gives snippets from various lives of characters living through the winter of Valley Forge. Some of it was bizarre but I ended really like the unique method of telling the tale.

[John Deardurff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have previously read Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor and really enjoyed it. I was not aware that he had written a novel on the coldest and darkest days of the Revolutionary War. While I enjoyed the detail in describing events and the prose used to paint a picture of the time period, it was at times difficult to follow the storyline. Especially, when the author writes in different dialects for individuals. I know others might find this as an addition to the story, I found it distracting. From a historical aspect I did find it a fascinating and an accurate account of Valley Forge.

[Jim Kelsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

He wrote one of my favorites…Andersonville.
This stinks…did not finish

[Lynn Pribus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting depiction by Kantor who won a Pulitzer 20 years earlier for ANDERSONVILLE which I have also read. Reread Andersonville for a short magazine feature and this one will serve for the same column come winter.

A sort of crazy quilt of disconnected although related vignettes of all sorts of characters, both historical and invented. Zexellency (Washington) is seen through several lenses. The Markee (de Lafayette) is also portrayed as are some Brits. Although 2000 out of 11000 soldiers died of privation and disease, yet there is not a sense of discouragement. The "spirit of liberty" noted by a foreign military person is strong throughout.

[Scott Fuchs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Mr. Kantor ..... Of course you knew that this oeuvre was not a novel. I only hope that you knew that the beauty of your prose [often it could be mistaken for poetry] astonishes as it always has. Let's not neglect the discovery and fun of the dialects.

is it"Andersonville," no; not as brilliantly structured as "Spirit Lake" but...... worth a read? Ubetcha!

[James Violand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about the darkest days of the revolution for the fledgling Continental Army under Washington. The Courage and fortitude displayed in this work should remind us that there is something worth suffering and dying for. Freedom.

[Marjie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Pete Iseppi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first Kantor book that Iread (several years ago) was "Andersonville" and it was excellent! I read this book a couple of years ago, and it was disappointing.