When Wilderness was King: A Tale of the Illinois Country

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Parrish, Randall, 1858-1923

Contributor:

Kinney, Margaret West, 1872-1952

Kinney, Troy, 1871-1938

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"When Wilderness Was King: A Tale of the Illinois Country" by Randall Parrish is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in the wilderness of early America, focusing on the adventures and challenges faced by its young protagonist, John Wayland. The plot is set against the backdrop of the Illinois frontier during a time of conflict with Native American tribes, highlighting themes of duty, bravery, and the bond between family and friendship. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to John Wayland, who lives a quiet life with his parents on the edge of the wilderness. One day, a stranger named Ol' Tom Burns arrives with a letter that reveals the death of John's father's old comrade, Roger Matherson, and requests John's family to take in Matherson's orphaned daughter, Elsa. John's father decides that John must embark on a dangerous journey to bring Elsa back. As the story progresses, John departs for the Illinois Country, experiencing moments of introspection and anticipation about his upcoming adventure, as well as the stirring presence of a mysterious girl named Mademoiselle Antoinette, whom he discovers at the shore and who may well hold a significant place in his quest. The opening chapters set the stage for a gripping tale of resilience amid the wilderness and the impending upheaval caused by the war. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Tom Cosmas compiled from images made available by The Internet Archive.

Notes:

Reading ease score: 76.2 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2019-05-27