HIGH TOWERS

by Thomas B. Costain ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 3, 1948

Historical romance with a new setting for the author of The Black Rose and other popular novels. This time the master of historical detail has taken the New World instead of the Old -- in a period paralleling that used in The Moneyman to some extent. It is set in New France, from Montreal to New Orleans- with the central characters the Le Moynes, of whom the best known were the glamorous D'Iberville, who won new worlds for his king, and his younger brother, Jean-Baptiste, Sieur de Bienville, who later founded New Orleans. Fur trading, conflict with the English, fears of Indians, though the aim was to hold the country for the Red Men, as feudal subjects of the French suzerainty,- against a background warm in the detail in which Costain excels, is told the story of two people, Felicite, whose mother was bribed to return to France out of temptation's way, and who was brought up as virtually a daughter of the Le Moynes, and Philippe, orphaned by Indian massacre, who grew up not knowing which of four couples had been his parents. There is adventure here- and for that the book will be welcomed- and romance too. But somehow the characters, for this reader at least, remained static, and the convincing panoply of history was not enough to bring them to life. This will carry small weight, however, with his followers, and the American setting will widen his market.

Pub Date: Jan. 3, 1948

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1948

Categories: FICTION