Author Bio:
M. Daniel Smith is a first-time author, with an interest in historical fiction novels.
He enjoys writing about strong willed, feisty women and the men they love, showing them in moments of emotional turmoil, introspective conversation, and physical closeness.
Coming from a blue-collar background, raised with two older sisters and strong women role models, he enjoys the interplay between wives and husbands, siblings, and people meeting, then falling in love.
A lifetime reader of all the books in his parent’s library, starting from age five on, he cut his teeth on a wide range of subject matters, covering war, romance, historical novels, and the like.
Now retired, a life-long Mainer living in the mid-coast region, he spends his time writing the type of novels he grew up with, telling his character’s stories as clearly, and as honestly as possible.
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Editorial Review:
'The Red Path'' by M. Daniel Smith is the first of a projected series of historical novels. For those who prefer their historical fiction sprawling, visceral and violent, the arrival of this novel of the 'French Indian Wars' of the eighteenth century, more widely known as 'The Seven Years War' - arguably the first true global conflict - will be a welcome addition to their libraries. Within its blood soaked pages [and it is a long book] all the necessary boxes are ticked - violence, endurance, treachery and love. It is, however, more than that. There are at times moments of superb period dialogue, sensitivity to a number of issues such as the lamentable effect on native north American tribal society of European colonialism and imperialism; the slow death of beliefs and way of life, issues of honour and loyalty and the nature of comradeship. The overall effect can, at times, be quite breathtaking.
Young Harold Knutt, sole surviving son of a reasonably prosperous Bristol mercantile family, is a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant in the King's Third Foot, currently on active service in the Ohio Basin area of the contested English Colonies of North America. It is November of the year 1758. He is young and very inexperienced in the arts of war, a rather sensitive and inward looking young man who keeps a journal in which he likes to pen sketches of scenes and individuals. He is also a gifted linguist. He displays a keen interest in aspects of military tactics and strategies, a talent and interest first discovered from his childhood and the avid study of military matters in his father's library. Not, seemingly, an advantage in his present circumstances in which first we encounter him, engaged as he is in a desperate skirmish against the French and their Indian allies along a turbulent border that at that time ran from Virginia to Newfoundland. He is indeed most fortunate to have at his side and at his back Sergeant Major Scott, a hardened and cynical veteran with years of service and battle experience who takes him under his wing. It proves to be a vital and important relationship in the difficult times to come. Harold Knutt is equally fortunate in being held in affection and high regard by a General Aidyn Maclean, like the Sergeant Major, also from Scotland.
The trust and belief in him from both men is not misplaced as Harold reveals himself to be a fine and skillful strategist and master of tactics in the field against the French. A third man forms the triumvirate of allies of Harold; this is Colonel George O'Malley of the Colonial Militia. These three men will play significant roles in the life and career of Second Lieutenant Harold Knutt. In his first significant action, through his skill and cunning, Harold achieves a triumphant victory, earning the praise of his troops, the Colonial Militia and his force of Iroquois Indians. Harold is promoted in rank and earns the title of 'Red Fox' for his cunning. It is soon after this first major engagement that he comes across the extraordinary figure of a a female camp follower tending to the wounded. He is struck by this vision and by her presence and beauty. This vision proves to be the sister of George O'Malley. Her name is Meghan. To him, though, she will be forever his 'Madonna' or 'Standing in the Sun'. This, his first impression, will remain with him forever. She will be his companion and lover through all the hard times that lie ahead. And hard times do indeed lie ahead! Harold reflects upon the aftermath of one such, after a particularly vicious and bitter fight:
''He was fortunate to still be in one piece, though battered a bit in mind, body and spirit. Surrounded by men who'd suffered the same, or worse. Young and old, sharing similar feelings of loneliness, depression, and ache for home. The shock of their survival absorbed as they drifted through the haze of shattered fields of conflict, bodies intact, looks of wonder upon their soot-blackened faces at having made it through the storm of lead and steel, alive. Others among them wandering off, having lost grasp of their moral roots. Men with blank stares, drinking whatever was near to hand, whenever available, engaged in endless, mumbling conversations with themselves.......''
As the war against the French intensifies and the British forces strengthen their hold on the Ohio Basin Country and increasingly threaten French possessions in Canada, Harold Knutt's stock rises rapidly with further victories engineered by him. He is entrusted with greater authority and responsibilities. He is given a highly delicate command in liaising with pro British Indian tribes to coordinate plans for a Spring offensive. He is away from Meghan for the entire winter and in the encampment of an important Chief, Tanawa. It is here that Harold falls into the orbit and under the spell of a beautiful young Indian girl called A'neewa, the daughter of the Chief. As with Meghan, A'neewa is highly intelligent and far sighted. Now Harold has the love of two women. In his winter stay in the encampment he learns much from her of the Indian way of life and their own particular view of things. Through her, he begins to analyse his own attitudes. She is keen to know more about Meghan, her rival. She learns of how Meghan had been kidnapped by Indians allied to the French, of how her husband and children had been murdered. A'weena has great sympathy for her, for this very thing had happened also to her, but with the important difference being that she had been able subsequently to exact her revenge on the men responsible. She provides Harold with the brutal details with great relish. She is characteristically incisive about Meghan's emotions:
''She would have been beaten, then abused, same as with me. Left with nothing to live for other than vengeance. Death is preferable to a life of pain. She will never have peace - true peace. Not until.......'' In the event, A'neewa's words are truer and wiser than she could have known. ''It has formed a shadow on her life and will remain until she drags those responsible from their lives with the red blade of a knife.''
In fact, with A'neewa joining the British camp for the major campaign aimed at Quebec, she earns a reputation for her skills at healing and both she and Megan become very close in their shared love and care for Harold, though the Indian girl becomes the lover of George O'Malley, the close friend of Harold. Besides, the two women have plans of their own to bring peace of mind to Meghan, to the extent that they actually become blood sisters in promise of Meghan's fateful quest. Harold's rise in the ranks continues, as do his military triumphs. 'Red Fox' is famous and known by all. By the winter of 1759 and the capture of another strategic French fort the clear indications are that French forces will submit to the British. A'neewa, seeking to provide solace and help where she can, moves amongst the surrendered Indians and their families, now prisoners of the British. .She is recognised by one of the captive Indian warriors. He turns on her bitterly and he subjects her to a bitter tirade that is worth quoting in full as it encapsulates her own true feelings as well:
''We are made prisoners here, while the English treat the French soldiers as their friends. The color of their skin binding them as brothers again, leaving us where we were before. We are useless weapons tossed aside when no longer needed.'' The man's anger, hatred and contempt of her continues and he issues a stern warning, a prophecy: ''They will come for you as well. They will eat your eyes, your hearts, while they swallow your stories, steal your spirits, leaving you hollowed out. It will not matter how well you know them. How often you lie with them, serving their needs. They will bleed you, cast you down. growing angry when you refuse to give your skin and blood to them as well.''
In fact these are increasingly Harold's own views as well on European policy regarding their possessions in North America. Now a Colonel and in Philadelphia prior to returning to Bristol, his home in England, he is contemplating a career in politics, whilst between them, A'neewa and Meghan plan the fulfilment of a pledge made. Ultimately, a disillusioned Colonel Harold Knutt returns to his homeland. The readership can be forgiven for hoping for a swift return and a further chapter in the life and career of Harold Knutt.
M. Daniel Smith clearly possesses a far reaching vision and paints a large landscape with a very broad brush. In reading 'The Red Path' one may perhaps be struck with a sense that perhaps certain opportunities may well have been missed. An early and more developed sense of the 'inner self' of Harold Knutt, for example, would have been welcome, as would have been those of the other male protagonists; though the descriptions off the personalities and motivations of the female characters is excellently portrayed. This is by no means a significant obstacle to a full enjoyment of this very action packed and exciting novel, but it would have been welcome. In addition, and for the benefit of the reader new to this period of history, a chronology of the main events of this very complex war would be invaluable.
*****
“The Red Path” by M. Daniel Smith receives 4.5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
The second book, "Legacy's Road: The Shadowed Way", is now published, with the third book in the series, "Legacy's Road: The Twisted Trail", due out this month.
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