The APPRENTICESHIP OF NIGEL BLACKTHORN is a coming-of-age story set in the American West of 1853. The story relates the adventures of a thirteen-year-old English boy whose missionary parents came to convert the wild heathens to the way of Christ.Comanches slaughter Reverend John Blackthorn and his family before he preaches one word. Nigel survives by following his mother¿s instructions to hide … hide in a hollow tree. Nigel prays for God to send help. Pascal LeBrun, a roaming muleteer, rides to the smoke of the burning wagons to find Nigel.Plump, lazy, and spoiled, Nigel enters an unwelcome new world¿work or starve. He finds survival is the way of life on the prairie. Worse yet, English is a little used third language. Two hundred miles later, when the mule train reaches the first white settlement, Pascal gives Nigel a choice: enter an orphanage, or enter an apprenticeship on the mule train for a piddling wage.Years later, Nigel wonders if the orphanage would have been easier.
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Nigel is the only survivor of a Comanche attack that killed his parents and took his two older sisters captive. He is rescued by Pascal and LaFleur, two muleteers who are quite interesting characters in their own right, backslidden Jesuits with desires for whiskey and women. So begins Nigel’s journey from spoiled young boy to a grown warrior. Looking forward to the next book.
I loved this story about Nigel Blackthorn. Spoiled, lazy and a mama’s boy, Nigel was unprepared for the Indian raid on his family where they killed his parents and kidnapped his sisters. Thanks to the kindness of French traders, he was given, not only a chance to live, but also to flourish and grow into a responsible and brave young man. I never lost interest throughout this story. The author did a superb job of bringing each scene to life with vivid imagery. His attention to detail sets this story apart. Either he spent a good deal of time researching the workings of a mule train, or else he has first-hand experience. He made me feel as if I was there with Nigel and the two traders. But, the scenes inside the Indian camp, for me, were the most vivid. I loved how Nigel grew through the story and by the end of the book, he was no longer Nigel Blackthorn, but Black Wolf and had earned the respect of his tribe the hard way. If you love stories written in the Zane Grey vein, you will definitely love this story from Frank Kelso! The end left me wanting more.
The Apprenticeship of Nigel Blackthorn (The Apprentice Series Book 1) by Frank Kelso is an engagingly written YA novel that follows the life of Nigel Blackthorn as his life is changed forever. After his family is murdered, Nigel joins a muletrain as an apprentice, instead of going to an orphanage. Sometimes he thinks the orphanage might have been the better choice. Overcoming his overwhelming grief, Nigel manages to grow into his new role, even though it is difficult and filled with manual labor. Written in clear and highly descriptive language, you get a beautiful picture of the West at the time, the year of 1853. The characterization in the book is on point, while the settings are perfectly described. There’s a good progression of Nigel’s character within the story as he matures. Finely written with great attention to detail, this book is entertaining, thoughtful and educational. Recommended.
This story was dark, gritty, and absolutely brilliant. I thought the author did a great job of capturing the harsh realities of the wild west during the mid-19th century. The reader is truly transported back in time, and no punches are pulled. My heart ached for Nigel, and everything he went through. A brilliant story of survival against the odds in a world where many were lost along the way. If you’re looking for a historical fiction that gives you a peek into the way life used to be, you’re going to want to grab this book.
The Apprenticeship of Nigel Blackthorn – Frank Kelso
Book starts with dedication page and other works by the author.
Story starts out with Nigel and he’s told to hide as the bad men are there and they are being attacked. Mother tells him not to hear their cries.
Females are being bruttally attacked and die, same as his father, the minister. They had left Boston to head to Oregon but were told to go a different route to help agency Indians who had people to form a church.
French Canadians find the boy days later and teach him how to take care of himself and the donkeys. They are the key to them all surviving.
Loved learning all about the times he spent with others learning what they had to teach him: fiiring guns, cleaning, aiming, running and why, snaring animals for food, hunting, learning how to use hides for clothing.
So educational. This book takes Black Wolf up to his teen years and others explain what is happening with his body.
Continues in another book by the author The Apprenticeship of Nigel Blackthorn Part II North in the Spring.
Ends with listing of author’s other friends who write western novels.
Really enjoyed the travel and places they stopped at. Learning of signs around you knowing what to eat by what other animals have eatten, very educational.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
Missouri-born author Frank Kelso has retired from his service as a biomedical research scientist and now writes short stores and novels that celebrate the Old West. His books to date include The Posse Anthology, The Jeb & Zach Western Series of three novels, FLOP-EARED MULE, THE WINDMILL, TRUE TO THE UNION, and The Apprentice Series, of which THE APPRENTICESHIP OF NIGEL BLACKTHORN is the initial volume.
Kelso’s ability to paint a scene is present even as the book opens – ‘Nigel Blackthorn’s father, John Blackthorn, a Methodist minister, gave his family no choice but to leave Wales in 1852. God had called him to bring Christ to the wild heathens of the unnamed prairies in the American West. The promise of land and a stipend mattered little to him. Eight months later, while he loafed in the shade, his son, Nigel surveyed the West Texas prairie through the tent’s flap. He welcomed a day’s rest after his father parked their wagons beside a stream list night. The thirteen-year-old considered splashing in the stream below his tent. Like any youngsters, he’d grown weary of traveling every day. There’s nothing to do. His missionary family established their wagon camp among the cottonwoods straddling Nebo Creek, which meandered into nearby Canadian River…’ The flavor and calm and history established, the story is disrupted by an attack that opens the door to this coming-of-age novel that tells the story of an orphaned boy learning to survive in the Old West. – Texas, 1853.
Related in the manner of those favored Wild West stories we rarely hear these days, Kelso revives that tradition with a very natural sense of adventure and caring. He condenses the storyline for us: ‘When his family falls victim of a brutal Comanche attack, Nigel’s life changed forever. While he escaped the slaughter, the rest of his loved ones didn’t. Plump, spoiled, and lazy, the preacher’s son finds himself alone, struggling to survive on the wild frontier. When Pascal, leader of a mule train, stumbles upon the smoking wagons, he offers Nigel a ride in exchange for hard labor. With little choice, Nigel accepts the promise of food and shelter for work. At 13, he believes cooking is a woman’s work—it’s his sisters’ job. Pascal, a defrocked priest, solves the problem, and makes Nigel the cook’s helper. Spurred onward by his desire to avenge his murdered family, he endures grueling days and countless painful lessons. One lesson is to learn to understand another man’s life. Pascal leaves Nigel with the Cheyenne people to learn their ways and become a man. Can Nigel survive long enough to find justice for his lost family or will the Wild West claim yet another victim?’
Classic Western tales tend to appeal to everyone who regards history with favor. Frank Kelso has the technique down pat! Recommended
This is a well researched novel about Nigel, an orphaned English boy, and his harsh introduction to western America in 1853 when America was still very much a fledgling country. I very much enjoyed the plot and the character development, I found myself thinking about young Nigel long after I’d finished reading the book.
I found this to be a real page-turner. Be aware that you might stay up late trying to find out what was going to happen next, as I did.
Overall an entertaining adventure that was in parts amusing, not to mention educational about the period, and very entertaining. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you like westerns and adventure. I didn’t see the story coming; but after I thought about it I should have. Ofcourse in reality it– would lead– to such topics. What a great story!!!