Ben Comee: A tale of Rogers's Rangers, 1758-59

About this book

Ben Comee: A Tale of Rogers’s Rangers, 1758‑59 is a historical novel that weaves personal family memory with the broader drama of the French and Indian War. The story opens in a bustling New Hampshire tavern, where the narrator’s cousin, Colonel William Munroe, recounts a chaotic encounter between British soldiers and local militia, complete with broken barrels, a bullet‑scarred ceiling, and the tragic death of the crippled innkeeper John Raymond. From this vivid scene the narrative expands into a sweeping recollection of the author’s lineage: a Scottish redemptioner turned free farmer, frontier skirmishes with Indians, and the everyday life of early Lexington, its schools, meeting‑houses, blacksmith’s shop, and the relentless rhythm of cattle drives and lumber hauls. The opening thus grounds the novel in a richly detailed setting that blends domestic anecdotes with the larger conflict of 1758‑59.

The prose reflects the early‑19th‑century storytelling style of Michael Joseph Canavan, marked by a leisurely, almost conversational cadence and frequent asides that catalog local customs, names, and anecdotes. Its voice is rooted in oral history, offering a blend of factual detail and familial legend that will appeal to readers who enjoy immersive period pieces, military history, and frontier life. Those with an interest in the French and Indian War, early American settlement, or the texture of colonial New England society will find the novel’s layered narration and vivid descriptions especially rewarding.

Opening lines

In front of it stand two large elms, from one of which hangs the tavern sign. It is the best tavern in the place. You will find there good beds, good food, and a genial host. The landlord is my cousin, Colonel William Munroe, a younger brother of my old friend Edmund. …

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