In the best tradition of James Fenimore Cooper, author Paul Block continues the story of Chingachgook and Hawkeye as they continue their journey through the confusing morass of political and military upheaval, no man's land claims, shifting alliances and the colliding worlds of culture and race at the time of the French and Indian Wars leading up to the American Revolution. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author knew the differences and issues between the Palatines, the English, the French, the Dutch as well as the warring Native American nations. I was even more enthusiastic about his story since I had been to most of the places mentioned in the book including Mount Hope, the LaChute River, the Hudson River, Fort William Henry, Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga), Horicon, Lake George and German Flats.

Being familiar with history or the places mentioned is not a requirement to appreciate this story of American history and settling the western frontier, which at the time was anything west of eastern New York State, specifically the current capital of Albany. It is not just about past American history, it is also about immigration and the clash of cultures, Native American, Dutch, English, French and Palatine German. It is nearly forgotten history that the Dutch settled New York and were conquered by the English. The Native Americans had not ceded their claims to the land yet and the French continued to claim what would later be America, leaving us today with place names that recall both their previous claims and contributions. The different groups could not even agree among themselves what might be the best course to take, to settle their disputes peacefully with diplomacy or with weaponry.

Any minor missteps in the book can be forgiven as Cooper himself famously wrote his book from a news article he read from a safe distance and didn't quite have the geography right. I am almost always disappointed in the sequels of great movies and books, even when written by the original authors, and especially when attempted by other authors. The fact that Block has echoed the spirit of the original and given a satisfying tale is a great accomplishment. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good tale of a time in our nation's past. ( )