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Friday, July 21, 2017

Old Number Four - book review

Old Number Four by George I. Putnam
Illustrated by R. Alden Burt. Published by Equity Publishing Corporation, Orford, NH, c. 1965.  164 pages. Upper elementary/junior high reading level. Historical fiction.

In my now-favorite book story in Niantic, CT, I came across this book. It was signed by the wife of the author and was priced a little higher than I usually go, but I had never seen the title and since historical fiction is my very favorite genre, I decided to get it. So glad I did.

The author, George I. Putnam, “was born on the 24th day of April 1860 in the town of Napanoch, New York. After spending his early years in Charlestown, New Hampshire, he embarked upon a colorful and adventurous life. He graduated from West Point with the Class of 1885 but resigned from military service in 1889. He wrote two books, “In Blue Uniform” and “On the Offensive”, before taking a job as reporter for the Denver Times, and later, the New York Times.  For eleven years, 1895-1906, he owned, edited and published the weekly, Claremont Advocate. After selling this enterprise in 1906 he married Miss Isabella Grieve O’Neil of Claremont and moved to Charlestown where they resided until 1923. During World War I he formed and trained a company of State Guards and after the war was over, became editor of the Claremont Daily Eagle for several years. The remainder of his seventy seven years was spent in San Diego, California.” (author information from the dust jacket). Don’t confuse him with George P. Putnam, the widower of Amelia Earhart, a generation later. Perhaps they were related though??

“The outstanding illustrations for this book were done with imagination, skill and great ability by R. Alden Burt, a northern New England artist, known for his fine pen and ink technique.” (artist information from the dust jacket).

Amazon’s review of the plot:
A bulwark on the frontier of American civilization during the French and Indian War-more than just a fortress to the pioneers of its day-home to many-loved by all-attacked by her enemies-defended by her stalwart inhabitants-the memory of Old Number Four is not among the missing when history calls its roll. Proud, and justly so, she stood to the fore in America's early march toward destiny. In the early 1700's life on the frontier was not easy. King George's War, 1744-1748, and the French and Indian War, 1754-1763, both left indelible marks on the pioneers of that period. Too, it is impossible to erase the enviable record of an old wooden fort located on the eastern shore of the Connecticut River where Charlestown, New Hampshire, now stands. Old Number Four was one of the last strongholds against a savage wilderness inhabited by shadowy Indians and ruthless French. Numerous pen and ink illustrations excite the imagination and provide a delightful sense of sharing in an era of inland conflict, exploration and settlement.”

If reading this book with your family, I encourage you to get your maps out to help understand the significance of this distant outpost of the northern New England frontier of the times. Also, help your readers understand the bigger picture of what was going on in Europe, especially between England and France, and of the War of the Austrian Succession, and how these events eventually influenced the American frontier of the Connecticut River valley.  The author also documents at the bottom of some of the pages his sources for the historical information presented, including some primary source records of letters and town records. These would be fun to find and take a look at as well.

The main characters with whom young people will identify are James and Little Susannah. These two young people come to Old Number Four under very different circumstances. They meet and eventually fall in love and marry following the book’s end. Their relationship over the two years of the book’s plot is pure and sweet, and fired by their growing understanding of the courage and character of each other.

I was impressed with the characterization that Putnam presents. He has a wonderful way of describing and developing the characteristics of each major person in the plot. From the foolish traitorous Jasper Dyke, to the loyal dog Traynor, to the two men in charge of the fort Captain Stevens and Colonel Stoddard, the author paints a distinct picture in the reader’s mind of these and their strengths and weaknesses. Here is a quote of his description of Captain Stevens, “…rose with the dignity of the born commander and assumed control. He was a four-square man; a yes-and-no man; post-true; short, compact, very ruddy, with a keen blue eye as clear as ice. He said little, running to deeds rather than words; yet he could speak, and speak well, when occasion called. His was the spirit of calm dominance. The respectful attention and obedience of men was his birthright. Few would run counter to him by thought, word or deed.” Many of the characters Putnam presents are real-life people of the age and events. That, along with his thorough knowledge of the times, make the book’s story believable.

I highly recommend this book for your American history studies of this time period: 1744-1763. If you do read it, please let me know what you think and if your family enjoyed it.

Recommended additional books to aid your studies:
The Young Gun-Bearer by Browne. King George’s War and the Siege of Louisburg.

Colonial Living by Edwin Tunis
Colonial Craftsmen by Edwin Tunis

Mill by David Macaulay. Since the newly-built mill at Old Number Four plays an important part in the story. This book seems to cover the 1800s more but still it might be helpful for younger readers to see what a mill actually looks like and how helpful and important it was to frontier families.

Courage to Command: A Story of the Capture of Louisbourg by MacDonald. Winston Adventure series.

Fantastic Breeds: Americans in King George’s War by Phillips.

Northern Lights by Rawlyk. I have not read this but it comes recommended by someone I highly respect.

The Story of the French and Indian War by Reeder

Master of the Peaks by Altsheler

Rogers’ Rangers and the French and Indian War by Bradford Smith, a Landmark book.

River of the Wolves by Stephen Meader

Master Entrick: An Adventure 1754-1756 by Michael Mott

The French and Indian Wars by Russell, American Heritage Junior Library

The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds, Newbery Medal book

The Gold-Laced Coat, a Story of Old Niagara by Helen Fuller Orton

In Enemy Hands, a Story of the French and Indian War by Natalia Belting

Forts in the Wilderness by Edith McCall

New Hampshire by Bernadine Bailey
Massachusetts by Bernadine Bailey

The Colony of New Hampshire by Lengyel. A First Book.
The Colony of Massachusetts by Dickinson. A First Book.

The American Indian Story by May McNeer

Indian Summer by Monjo, An I Can Read book

Pathfinder, Leatherstocking Tale of the French & Indian War by Cooper

Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare

and this youtube video about the historic site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0V3V0OgtQ

And perhaps do some research about Captain Phineas Stevens and Colonel Sampson Stoddard. Very interesting and influential men of their time. Also the French officer that led the campaign against Old Number Four, Joseph Boucher de Niverville and whose career was the longest of any Canadian officer in the 1700s. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/boucher_de_niverville_joseph_5E.html

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 18, 2017)


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