THROUGH WOODS ON WATER

The sad story of a Canadian legend lies at the heart of this historical novel.

The book’s subtitle succinctly explains Russell’s concept. Initially, there is nothing special about Étienne Brûlé. After his Huguenot parents are killed in religious infighting, Étienne runs away to live on the streets of Paris. Life changes for Étienne in March 1608. That is when he saves Hélène Boullé from drowning in the Seine. Her father, Nicolas, is an important man, a secretary in King Henry IV’s court, and he takes Étienne into his home. Both Nicolas and Étienne are enamored by maps of the New World. The orphan tells Nicolas that he’d like to go to sea. Nicolas makes that happen, and Étienne is soon sailing on an expedition to the New World headed by Samuel Champlain, the king’s navigator and mapmaker, who becomes the orphan’s mentor. It is there, in what is now Quebec, that Étienne meets two people who will become his longtime allies: the Native Sabiton, his eventual “brother,” and the shaman Ostemoy. Étienne, Champlain’s translator, begins living with the Wendat tribe. Étienne has a child with Ostemoy while Champlain returns to France and marries the much younger Hélène. As Étienne becomes entrenched with the Natives, Champlain’s fortunes wax and wane, with the fallout battering the protagonist and his companions. Russell has done an admirable job fleshing out this diverse cast of historical characters. His prodigious research is apparent in his characterization. This is especially the case with his interpretation of the shadowy Étienne, an outsider in his native country who makes a home for himself in New France. Ostemoy, the author’s own creation, provides the Indigenous perspective to the narrative, as she follows her visions, frequently to her people’s detriment. Russell’s retelling of France’s foray into the New World allows readers to understand the mistakes made by both the invaders and the Natives. He also highlights the mistrust among all the groups involved, which made cooperation impossible. His detailed descriptions of the difficulties faced lend a sense of immediacy to the story. Étienne’s life in New France is shown to be a grueling slog in this comprehensive and informative work.

A stirring and illuminating tale about an ambitious orphan in New France.