Sometimes it’s a circuitous route to finding a good book. I was reading Mantel Pieces by British journalist Hilary Mantel when I came upon a review she did of a book relevant to Canadian and American history. The Unredeemed Captive by John Demos is the true story of the first settlers in the northeastern United States and Quebec. It covers about one hundred years beginning in the early 1700s and uses frequent and literal quotes from the diary of a Puritan pastor, the Reverend John Williams who lived in a small community called Deerfield near the New Hampshire and Massachusetts border. It’s a harsh retelling of the conflicts and compromises between the settlers and the native tribes. Until I read this book, I had no idea that kidnapping for ransom at that time was such an active and lucrative business. The indigenous people kidnapped members of rival tribes as well as white settlers and used them as currency to gain release of other captives, to obtain trading supplies, and to gain power. French fur traders from Quebec City and Montreal often hired the native people as their agents and enforcers to avoid political repercussions. This was a fascinating read and while it might be a bit too detailed for some readers, I was absolutely mesmerized by the story. The author uses an eleven-year-old white girl called Eunice who was the daughter of John Williams as a central character to knit the story together. She was captured and raised by natives while her mother and some of her siblings were murdered. If you enjoyed the movie “Black Robe”, then you’ll enjoy this true story. I loved it.