Exile: An Epic Novel of Colonial America and the Wilderness Frontier

by Brendan Frain

Boundless McLennan, a young Scottish printer, is sentenced to indentured servitude in the American colonies for the crime of seditious libel. Upon landing in the New World, he escapes and learns of a marvellous beast inhabiting the far western plains. A trapper takes Boundless under his wing and seduces him with tales of endless grasslands beyond the Alleghenies where the buffalo are rumoured to be so plentiful that 'Jehovah himself could not count the heads'. Together, they set out on an epic adventure across a thousand miles of wilderness full of dangers-from bandits, wild animals, hostile Indians, and a brutal war between England and France for possession of the New World. Despite the perils of the journey, Boundless is determined to lay eyes on the mysterious creature that beckons him to his destiny on the vast, windswept plains.

650 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2022

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brendan Frain’s beautifully written “Exile,” the first book in a five book epic series “Monuments of Grass”, is a must read. Travel back in time to actually experience the many challenges to survival in the “New World.” Frain’s uncanny understanding of life in the 18th century and his compelling descriptions of the New World, invites the reader to experience the many trials, hardships and challenges of survival in a harsh and alien environment. Boundless McLellan is sent to the American Colonies after being convicted of seditious libel in a court in London England. Although he escapes servitude, he is ill-prepared for the hazardous journey. He quickly realizes that his life depends on his ability to learn to navigate rivers and forest trails, hunt and survive in the vast wilderness. “Exile” is a masterful novel, the first novel, in a sweeping epic that gives voice to the courage and forbearance of one man whose life is a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit.

L.C. Professor of Education (Retired) Canada