P. Gifford Longley
Tate Publishing & Enterprises
January 4, 2011 / ISBN: 9781617392269
Fiction
Amazon
Reviewed
by Christine Lindemer
Captive
is the companion volume to Compelled, also by P. Gifford
Longley. This story, spanning in time from July 1694 to June of
1696, begins on the summer night before the capture of the main
character, twelve-year-old John Longley, and the murders of many
of his family members. Taken captive - - along with two of his siblings
- - an arduous backcountry travail ensues. The possibility of John
and eleven other captives being sold as slaves or ransomed at any
point was intriguing.
The narrative is very realistic, with many small details of wilderness
camping with the Abenaki, canoe portages, and near starvation which
bring the story to life. The dialogue - - between the seventeenth-century
pioneer children and their conversations with their Native American
captors - - seems plausible. Not surprisingly, some of the children
show the defiance that one would expect from adolescents, especially
under such adverse circumstances. (Note: Longley is known to his
captors as ·John Aw-geh-ree,· which is how they pronounced
his name.)
This kidnapping story reminded me of modern-day kidnappings of children
and adolescents and ·Stockholm Syndrome.· As a New
England resident with former knowledge of this real-life story,
I had long wondered why this young man had not tried to escape.
This story made clearer the real situation in which John·s
survival may have depended upon becoming as much like a Native American
as he was able to - - adapting to their customs, dress, and society
- - not to mention Longley·s almost inevitable demise should
he have escaped into the wilderness with or without fellow captives.
Lydia Longley·s story of her beginnings as ·The First
American Nun· is also covered as a side story in one of the
chapters. Sagamores such as Taxous and his son, Incon, and others
are woven into the story. A complete listing of the Groton citizens
murdered, injured, or captured in the raid appear in a roll call.
From its hair-raising beginning to its eventful conclusion, this
carefully crafted book would be enjoyed by any New England and Native
American history enthusiasts. Of special interest is the mention
in the foreword of the etched stone honoring the family at the edge
of Longley Road in Groton, Massachusetts, and the historical map
of the area (including Acadia) in the appendix. Highly recommended.
Reviewer's
Note: Captive is companion volume to
Compelled. Both books are based on a true story.
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