Wacousta: A Tale of the Canadas

by John Richardson

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Description

Set on the northwest frontier during the Pontiac conspiracy of the 1760s, this story of false identity, wasted love, diabolic vengeance and unquenchable hatred articulates themes and mythologies relevant to French, British, Canadian and American history.

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Member Reviews

4 reviews
A slog. As the military narrative unfolds, regularly and somewhat confusingly punctuated with flashbacks, we gradually recognise a romantic, indeed operatic, drama of betrayal and revenge. Greatly in debt to Sir Walter Scott, with a dauntingly elevated level of diction. “Consigned to a mere repose of limb, in which the eye and heart shared not, the inferior soldiery pressed their rude couches with frames debilitated by much abstinence and watching” is only part of a typical sentence. Of scholarly interest only, in my estimation.
I read this book relatively long ago, and it was for a college class, ie, I had to. I'll be frank and say I would never have read this otherwise, but it is in no way a bad read. Just a rather banal one. Comparisons with "Last of the Mohicans" could be made, to the latter's advantage, no doubt, but the subject matter is very similar, if such is your cup of tea.
In any case, I suppose it's a good historical relation of life in the British/Canadian forts along the border with the United States, and of the Anglo-American wars.
A good rip roaring read, lots of blood, guts and scalps! Not for the faint hearted. Some of the plot points on second inspection might be hard to believe, but fun nonetheless.
½
Terribly boring; I gave up.

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New Canadian Library
191 works; 7 members

Author Information

Picture of author.
3 Works 112 Members

Some Editions

Lum, Jennifer (Cover designer)

Awards and Honors

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Wacousta: A Tale of the Canadas
Original title
Wacousta, or, The Prophecy: A Tale of the Canadas
Alternate titles
Wacousta: A Tale of the Canadas; Wacousta: a critical edition
Original publication date
1832
People/Characters
Pontiac

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
DDC/MDS
813Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English
LCC
PR9199.2 .R53 .W3Language and LiteratureEnglishEnglish LiteratureEnglish literature: Provincial, local, etc.
BISAC

Statistics

Members
108
Popularity
301,169
Reviews
4
Rating
(3.13)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
49
ASINs
3