The Hidden Children

The Cardigan Series #3

by Robert W. Chambers

Classic novel by the American artist and writer, most well known for his collection of weird fiction short stories; The King in Yellow. According to some estimates, Chambers was one of the most successful literary careers of his period, his later novels selling well and a handful achieving best-seller status.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Ebooks

578 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1914

About the author

Robert William Chambers was an American artist and writer.

Chambers was first educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute,and then entered the Art Students' League at around the age of twenty, where the artist Charles Dana Gibson was his fellow student. Chambers studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, and at Académie Julian, in Paris from 1886 to 1893, and his work was displayed at the Salon as early as 1889. On his return to New York, he succeeded in selling his illustrations to Life, Truth, and Vogue magazines. Then, for reasons unclear, he devoted his time to writing, producing his first novel, In the Quarter (written in 1887 in Munich). His most famous, and perhaps most meritorious, effort is The King in Yellow, a collection of weird short stories, connected by the theme of the fictitious drama The King in Yellow, which drives those who read it insane.

Chambers returned to the weird genre in his later short story collections The Maker of Moons and The Tree of Heaven, but neither earned him such success as The King in Yellow.

Chambers later turned to writing romantic fiction to earn a living. According to some estimates, Chambers was one of the most successful literary careers of his period, his later novels selling well and a handful achieving best-seller status. Many of his works were also serialized in magazines.

After 1924 he devoted himself solely to writing historical fiction.

Chambers for several years made Broadalbin his summer home. Some of his novels touch upon colonial life in Broadalbin and Johnstown.

On July 12, 1898, he married Elsa Vaughn Moller (1882-1939). They had a son, Robert Edward Stuart Chambers (later calling himself Robert Husted Chambers) who also gained some fame as an author.

Chambers died at his home in the village of Broadalbin, New York, on December 16th 1933.

Reviews

[Michael Karpovage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to hunt The Hidden Children down from a dealer in Freeville, NY for $35. I really liked it alot. It kept my interest, had thrills, adventure, action, and romance - well, too much romantic banter, I should say. That was my only fault with it.

Set against one of the most important military campaigns of the Revolutionary War – the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition – this historical fiction novel was highly interesting to me personally because I had conducted extensive research into that campaign and in particular the tragic character of Lt. Thomas Boyd. To actually experience Boyd's character, in the eyes of the main character Ensign Euan Loskiel, kept me on the edge of my seat until the final climactic scene of the ambush. That ambush on Sept. 13, 1779 is the basis for my own mystery thriller titled Crown of Serpents. I was especially glad the author included the part where Boyd gave the Freemason hail signal of distress to Chief Joseph Brant upon being captured. As a Mason myself, this was a rare incredible display of true brotherhood from enemy combatants. Yet, despite that brief protection, Boyd suffered one of the most heinous torture deaths of the entire war.

Overall an entertaining read.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a generous 3 stars I'd say. The battle parts weren't all that interesting for me (sorry) and Lois' constant blathering on about how she doesn't know if she likes Loskiel or not, and then her sappy love letters were just irritating.

* Euan Loskiel is in the military in some way. He's out with the other troops, and some other people referred to as 'Indians', and Mohicans who the military seem to be in charge of 🤨
* One day as they're passing through somewhere, Loskiel sees a ragged, skinny girl at the side of the road and can't stop thinking about her. She then turns up further down the road, and it seems like she's been following them.
* He eventually talks to the girl and finds out that her name is Lois, and that she's heading to Catherine's Town, which is also where the military is going. Loskiel decides that he's going to look after Lois, but she says she doesn't want his money. And she's not sure if she even likes him.
* Loskiel eventually talks her into taking his gifts, but tells her that it's too dangerous for her to go to Catherine's town. Obviously she ignores him and follows the troops.
* Loskiel and a friend talk, and work out that Loskiel and Lois are both 'lost children' - children who are sent away to be raised by other people, who are later supposed to be returned to their original family. Lost children are also supposed to marry other lost children. Lois is going to Catherine's Town to find her real mother.
* Lois tells Loskiel that she doesn't love him, then tells him that she does (talk about confusing). He asks her to marry him and she says no, then later says yes.
* After a long walk the military get to Catherine's Town and rescue Lois' mother who has been held captive there since before she had Lois.
* Boyd proposes to a girl called Lana but she refuses because he had sex with a girl called Dolly and got her pregnant and refused to marry her. Lana tells Boyd he must marry Dolly, but he really doesn't want to.
* So, there are some battles and Loskiel's friend Boyd dies. Loskiel witnesses it. The military decide to go home and Loskiel eventually gets back to Lois.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite of the Cardigan series so far. While I was sad to see Jack Mount marginalized almost to the point of non-existence in this story, Chambers' growth as a writer in the intervening years between this book and The Maid-At-Arms felt evident in the subtlety of description of certain events, and in the general reigning-in of the drama related to the romance portions of the novel. Regardless of the degree of its historical accuracy, Loskiel's deep camaraderie with "his Indians" and Chambers' evident regard for the Iroquois also made this a very enjoyable read. I am surprised that I have enjoyed these novels as much as I have ("historical action-romance" is not my go-to genre), but I'm certainly glad that I found them.

[Trebor · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I read the title and thought how could this be in a western collection, but how wrong can one be. The West is a relative place in relation to time. During the American Revolution the west meant any where west of Hudson River, or permanent town. This story revolves around a young American ensign pathfinder and his Mohican mentor and comrade. A bit in the tradition of J.F. Cooper, but to me much more historically correct. The author reveals many minute details about the life of revolutionary volunteers, the land, the rigors of camp life, the many tribes of indigenous natives and their relationships to each other and the whites. Fascinating stuff to me and my love of the early American New York area history, inspired by the Leather Stocking tales and such. The only draw back was the sometimes lengthy banterings between the hero and his love interest, which proves them to be the "Hidden Children". Nevertheless, this proved to be my favorite and most enjoyed of all the books contained in this collection.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A freebie downloaded to my Kindle from Project Gutenberg, I found the book on the American 'best-sellers' shelf.

Set in the times when men were 'gentlemen' and women were 'delicate flowers' to be taken care of, the romance takes place against a backdrop of bloody conflict between the Amercian calvary and the British (with both sides making use of tribes of Native American Indians). The heroine of the story is different in that she is independent and refuses to be 'taken care of' but instead pursues her own goals despite ongoing opposition.

Apart from the detailed descriptions of several 'scalpings' (and what happens to the scalps after), I did enjoy reading this story, mainly because of the historical context and because it gave me an idea of what people in America were reading one hundred years ago.

[Sebastian Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book with that took parts of a true story into it. It overdid a few things that i got board of at points but the thing that took this book up to 5 stars for me was how well done the romance was. I enjoyed that aspect of the book although it seemed very separated from the first 2 books series. I still very much enjoyed although i would have a tough time reading again.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it on my Note. Great drama and chaste romance. It's about an historic time I do not know much about. I want to know more about the book and author. It is very exciting. I could not put it down in the last chapters.