The Good Journey: A Novel

Building her historical fiction novel on actual letters and diaries, author Micaela Gilchrist has delivered, The Good Journey, a story about Mary Bullitt Atkinson and her marriage to General Henry Atkinson. Strong willed Mary joins the General at his outpost at St. Louis on the Mississippi River in January 1826 and the story covers the next twenty years in their colorful marriage, as the General deals with both the Winnebago Indian War and the Black Hawk War.

Mary is a young girl of twenty when they marry, and has been sheltered during her life. The General is in his forties. Although Mary is greatly attracted to him, and he to her, what seems to define their marriage are the secrets that they keep from one another. The General is often show more away, fighting the various Indian wars, but he is considered too soft on the Indians by others. Mary is confused by her husband’s attachment to an Indian woman called Bright Sun, but he offers no explanation.

This was an interesting read as it was very descriptive of both military and Indian life. The Americans were moving ever westward and pushing the Indians from their land. Black Hawk’s people, the Saulks were expected to move west of the Mississippi into the lands of the Sioux, their traditional enemies. Unfortunately, this was also a rather dense and slow moving novel, and perhaps suffered a little from having to read the viewpoints of quite a few characters, including Mary, her soldier cousin, and Bright Sun. I thought the story was wonderful even though the writing was uneven, and I think this book would appeal to anyone with an interest in this time period in American History. show less

The Good Journey is a beautifully written historical fiction novel set during the Black Hawk War between the white men and the Native Americans. I enjoyed Mary, the main character because she is not your typical pre-Civil War damsel in distress. She is sassy and confident. There were many laugh-out-loud moments in this book which were quite refreshing. A very nice story.

Although I rarely read historic fiction this book jumped out at me when I was looking for some Ellen Gilchrist books I might not have read. Since the main character, Mary, was from louisville I thought I would give it a shot.

I must admit I am the only review that is not going to give a glowing review. Even though the story is interesting I find it a trifle lagging and am skipping all the Indian fighting and scalping parts. But that is me, I do not watch much violence and the same goes with reading.

All in all, I have to say I likes it enough to read beyond my 100 page "give it a chance" rule. If you like historical fiction and a love story, very good characters and a lot of Indian's you will enjoy this book.

A wonderful biographical novel about the wife of Gen. Henry Atkinson, commander of Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis, 1826-1842, during the Black Hawk Wars.

Mary, the heroine, is an independent young woman, raised as a Kentucky "belle". The general is much older, stern, authoritative. The author's research is credible, based on volumes of letters written by the protagonist. So many historical characters play roles in the story. This is a wonderful, yet tragic, love story. Like Scarlet and Rhett, these two real people are so often at cross purposes, and don't realize the depth of the love they share until it is too late.

General Henry and Mary Atkinson and their adventures in the midwest.