Rogers must rescue his young officer before the indians can force him to reveal the rangers attack plans. Northwest passage trade route, north america britannica. It was based on the first part of kenneth robertss 1937 novel of the same name. Between the 15th and 20th centuries, many explorers tried to find the passage, but.
Sir robert john le mesurier mcclure, sherard osborn. Awardwinning artist matt james takes the iconic song northwest passage by legendary canadian songwriter and singer stan rogers and tells the dramatic story of the search for the elusive route through the arctic ocean to the pacific, which for hundreds of years and once. First edition of kenneth roberts historical novel which follows the exploits of robert rogers, the leader of a colonial force fighting with the british during the french. The arundel series entitles roberts to a distinctive place among historical novelists. Northwest passage by kenneth lewis roberts alibris uk. Ive never read better historical fiction than that written by kenneth roberts. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Take the case of kenneth roberts, who wrote northwest passage and. Northwest passage 1940 northwest passage 1940 user. Numerous search parties later used beechey as a depot and rendezvous. Jun 10, 2011 the tragic history of the northwest passage is still chilling, says jenny diski. Kenneth lewis roberts december 8, 1885 july 21, 1957 was an american writer of historical novels. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much o.
Northwest passage kenneth roberts angus and robertson sydney 1938. Such is the latest assessment from the national snow. Northwest passage, american adventure film, released in 1940, that deals with. The desire to establish such a route motivated much of the european exploration of both coasts of north america. Book i of this novel appeared serially under the title of rogers rangers. Such is the latest assessment from the national snow and ice data center, which suggests that the passage. Its a german copy of roberts book northwest passage. The quest for the passage was one of the worlds severest maritime. Sep 10, 2015 the storied northwest passage is open its socalled southerly route, anyway. Robert was the name of several kings, dukes, and other rulers and noblemen robert was in the top 10 most given boys names in the us for 47 years, from 1925 to 1972 robert was one of the most popular male names in medieval europe, likely due to its frequent usage amongst. The first half of the book is fast paced and descriptive of the those times during the indian troubles along the northwestern border of new england during the french and indian war. Learn about the explorers both before and after cook who ventured into the arctic in search of the northwest passage, a navigable channel that was believed to connect the north atlantic and the pacific oceans.
Buy northwest passage by kenneth lewis roberts online at alibris uk. Sharing focus is the novels single narrator langdon towne, a young artist from maine. His pursuit of the legendary northwest passage will become a consuming passion, again narrated by langdon towne. Northwest passage is an epic story of early north america during the french and indian war. Kenneth roberts northwest passage 1937 antique author. Rogers rangers is a major work and was a resounding success in its day. Ive seen online before a copy or two of roberts books in another language, but have never come across a copy here in the states. Kenneth roberts biography kenneth roberts biography and list of works kenneth roberts books. The voyage of john cabot king henry vii of england allowed and paid for cabot to try to reach asia by sailing west. The search for the northwest passage the british library. Winner of the the 20 governor generals literary award for illustration. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, first edition, signed.
Northwest passage kenneth roberts national library of. This is the first kenneth roberts book ive read, a historical novel about colonial america shortly before the revolution. Here is a fine blend of natural history, of human history, and of political history. It was the basis for the 1940 movie northwest passage, starring spencer tracy.
Kenneth robertss most popular book is northwest passage. Northwest passage book by kenneth roberts thriftbooks. England called the hypothetical northern route the northwest passage. Apr 04, 2011 kenneth roberts presents tragic hero robert rogers colonial indian fighter is central figure in great drama out of americas historic past the northwest passage, in the imagination of all free people, is a short cut to fame, fortune and romancea hidden route to golconda and the mystic east. Before the little ice age, norwegian vikings sailed as far north and west as ellesmere island, skraeling island and ruin island for hunting expeditions and trading with the inuit groups who already inhabited the region. Complete summary of kenneth roberts northwest passage. Northwest passage by kenneth lewis roberts alibris.
Between the 15th and 20th centuries, many explorers tried to. Northwest passage simple english wikipedia, the free. Buy northwest passage by kenneth lewis roberts online at alibris. Structurally, northwest passage is divided into halves. A reassessment introduction throughout much of this century canada has sought to establish conclusively its sovereignty over the islands and waters which lie immediately north of continental canada. Winner of the governor generals literary award for childrens illustration.
Born in kennebunk, maine, roberts specialized in regionalist historical fiction, often writing about his native state and its. The spanish empire wanted to reach asia by a western route, because portugal controlled the eastern route around the cape of good hope. Sep 17, 2018 another find from poor richards was a copy of kenneth roberts nordwest passage. It turned out he was an indian aficionado, too, with the french and indian war 17541763 being one of his specialties. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, first edition abebooks passion for books. This classic novel follows the career of major rogers, whose incredible exploits during the. Lost for 168 years, doomed northwest passage ship disovered. For me, its always been rabble in arms, followed by northwest passage and oliver wiswell tied for second. Beautifully illustrated, and paired with the words from the song, this book also includes a timeline of northern exploration, a minibiography of important explorers, and the music and verses for the song northwest passage. Northwest passage is divided into two parts dramatizing the career of major robert rogers as the leader of rogerss rangers during the french and indian war and his subsequent failure as an. Awardwinning artist matt james takes the iconic song northwest passage by legendary canadian songwriter and singer stan rogers and tells the dramatic story of the search for the elusive route through the arctic ocean to the pacific, which for hundreds of years and once again today, nations. It represents centuries of effort to find a route westward from the atlantic ocean to the pacific ocean through the arctic archipelago of what became canada. Franklins party overwintered at beechey islandwhere three of his men died. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel follows the exploits and character of robert rogers, the leader of rogers rangers, who were a colonial force fighting with the british during the french and indian war.
The northwest passage is a sea route that connects the atlantic and pacific oceans through the canadian arctic archipelago. Northwest passage a waterway through north america that linked the atlantic ocean and the pacific ocean. The second half of the book follows major rogers further career in england and on the northwest. Northwest passage is an historical novel by kenneth roberts, published in 1937. Northwest passage was the second book by roberts i read and this as well as all other works in roberts chronicles of arundel series sold me on the us. The first half is a carefully researched, daybyday recreation of the raid by rogers rangers on the indian village a. I stress two because its rare to find more than one book of roberts in a book store outside of new england. Join us on an expedition to the northernmost parts of the world on a northwest passage cruise. Northwest passage kenneth roberts the unofficial site.
This antique volume is an early printing signed by the author on the bibliographical page. Jan 01, 2001 this first half of the book is easily the most interesting, rich in fairly accurate detail about rogers leadership and the audacious heroism of his rangers. Original gilt and blindpictorial cloth, map endpapers, nonpriceclipped dust jacket. In the past, the northwest passage has been virtually impassable because it was covered by. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, paperback barnes. Northwest passage is the story of revenge within the framework of the french and indian war, a fantastic account of courage, endurance and heroism.
Kenneth roberts presents tragic hero robert rogers colonial indian fighter is central figure in great drama out of americas historic past the northwest passage, in the imagination of all free people, is a short cut to fame, fortune and romancea hidden route to golconda and the mystic east. Northwest passage is a historical novel by kenneth roberts, published in 1937. The actual existence of the northwest passage had been proved, and the long search was over. They have the quality of recapturing a period, incidents, with a sense of eye witness. He worked first as a journalist, becoming nationally known for his work with the saturday evening post from 1919 to 1928, and then as a popular novelist. The northwest passage by kenneth roberts book cover, description, publication history. Stoodleys tavern is a key setting in the novel northwest passage by kenneth roberts, and in a 1940 hollywood film of the same name.
Ebenezer webster of east kingston, future father of statesman daniel webster, is among the rangers portrayed in the book version of northwest passage by kenneth roberts. The storied northwest passage is open its socalled southerly route, anyway. Apr 28, 2020 although rogers fought for the british, most of his rangers became patriots. This first half of the book is easily the most interesting, rich in fairly accurate detail about rogers leadership and the audacious heroism of his rangers. The tragic history of the northwest passage is still chilling, says jenny diski. Northwest passage was one of my favorites as a teen, but i hadnt give it a thought in more than twoscore. Buy a cheap copy of northwest passage book by kenneth roberts. List of books and articles about northwest passage. Northwest passage by roberts, kenneth lewis, 18851957. Kenneth roberts did a spectacular job of fleshing out the characters in the intriguing historical novel, northwest passage. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In 1845, sir john franklin set out from england with hms erebus and terror, attempting to sail through the northwest passage. Spain wanted to have a route that it could control.
His writing was descriptive and he possessed a knack for even making the scenery come alive. Major rogers plans for a decisive blow against the french army are thwarted when ensign towne is captured by black wolfs tribesmen. Kenneth roberts northwest passage 1937 antique author signed. The northwest passage by kenneth roberts fantastic fiction. The book club historical novel, first published in 1937 when it was the 2nd bestselling book, only surpassed by sales of gone with the wind. The northwest passage is a sea passage along the north coast of north america, through the arctic ocean. Sir john franklin was commissioned by queen victoria to search for the northwest passage. The northwest passage is a sailing route that connects the atlantic ocean to the pacific ocean through canada.
The 1940 film northwest passage subtitled book one. Living in england after the revolution, rogers drank heavily and. Roberts wellresearched novel, published in 1936, was largely responsible for reviving the rogers legend. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel. The arctic is melting but shipping through the northwest. Northwest passage, historical sea passage of the north american continent. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, first edition. In the past, the northwest passage has been virtually impassable because it was covered by thick, yearround sea ice. Books by kenneth roberts author of northwest passage. John stark of manchester, rogers trusted lieutenant, became a key general in the revolution. The story, taken from the historical novel of the same name by kenneth roberts, concerns the reallife exploits of british major robert rogers, the original founder of what would become the u. Kenneth and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
So popular was the novel that it made the silver screen starring spencer tracey. Search for the northwest passage flashcards quizlet. Now comes northwest passage, dealing with the time of the frenchindian wars, the terrible uncertainty of the english relations with the indians, with their own colonists on distant frontiers. Because of ice, the passage is usually closed to ships. The name robert was also a royal name in france, germany and england during medieval period. Kenneth roberts has 79 books on goodreads with 153 ratings. The discovery of the northwest passage sir robert john. When it became apparent that there was no route through the heart of the continent, attention turned to the possibility of a passage through northern waters.
Was made into a movie starring spencer tracy in 1940. Immediately download the northwest passage summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching northwest passage. Based on the kenneth roberts novel of the same name, northwest passage covers. While roberts published his first novel in 1930 arundel, he did not gain notoriety until after the publication of northwest passage 1937.
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