Arundel (1929) by Kenneth Roberts

Book Review

Arundel (1929) 

by Kenneth Roberts

 My partner is from the Boston area, and her mom lives in New Hampshire, so we end up there at least twice a year.   It's not a bad place to be, particularly the coast of Maine during the summer, which combines a lack of people (even during "high" season), excellent sea food and interesting history. It's led me to an interest in the regional literature of the area- and I was delighted to find this Downeast Press reprint of Arundel, the first in a series of historical novels a la Walter Scott that chronicle the revolutionary war activities in Maine from the perspective of a local participant.

  Arundel covers a pre-betrayal Benedict Arnold and his magnificent, doomed effort to lead a militia heavy army through the heart of Maine to attack the French at Quebec city.   The whole encounter will remind any reader of a Werner Herzog film, with the woods of Maine appearing in place of a South American jungle.  Roberts was quite famous in his day- though he forever tarnished his reputation by getting involved in the Nativist movement, where he served as a mouthpiece for vile anti Mexican and Eastern Europe attitudes.  He also got involved in Florida real estate and wrote copy for several investment schemes that were little more than out-and-out fraud.  

  Roberts is more or less out of print and forgotten- I checked out the second book in this four book series and got a repress edition from the 1940's.   In Roberts favor is his depiction of Native Americans in this book- the Natives are largely portrayed in a positive light, and Roberts includes several arguments that were familiar to Native advocates back in the 18th and 19th century.