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Maude and Miriam: Or, the Fair Crusader
"WE are in the feudal days of Old England, often spoken of by ancient poets as "brave and merrie Angoland," when the rude and warlike spirit of the times, notwithstanding the truce of God, rendered it unsafe for females to travel without an escort.We will apply brave now to the beauty of the country, while yet the grand old forests covered so many broad acres."Eternal American Classics is a project aimed at bringing to the reader classical works of American Literature that are not yet available as eBooks in the most practical format and low prices.
352 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2019
23 people are currently reading
673 people want to read
About the author
Harriet Burn McKeever
29 booksHarriet Burn McKeever (1807-1886) was a school teacher who began writing later in life. She wrote poems and novels of an uplifting nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
December 16, 2020
The writing seems a little stiff at first but this ultimately figures into the charm of the tale. I really enjoyed these hardy characters and the matter-of-fact way they go about life and death, the very serious and silly ways they battle courtship and love. There is a uniqueness to the frontier tale, something like detachment. The characters can come across as reckless with their own lives, and then a feeling will come forth and you'll be reminded how very human they are. I think it's a nice reminder of how people change and how much they stay they same. Good stuff. I can tell how much he enjoyed writing the story. It sort of comes off the page.
April 8, 2017
No political correctness here. It makes you appreciate how far we have come as a society in respecting and appreciating other races and cultures. The story is interesting, but the style of writing is very dramatic and romantic. Also, the story, at least the love-interest part, is historically inaccurate.
December 18, 2017
This book was totally different to what I normally read, but despite its slightly different style (the first book by this author and written in 1903) it definitely worked for me and really enjoyed it. It is even more interesting as in this book Betty Zane was one of his antecedents. There are two other books in the Frontier trilogy and have downloaded them from Amazon. All 3 books are free as copyright has expired. If you want something different with a great female lead who was ahead of her time, read this one! 4.5 Stars
May 24, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed book about Betty Zane. This is loosely based on actual events, and it is written extremely well, as are all of Zane's books. Each of his books is a learning experience for me. The strong characters inspire me to emulate them in many cases.
December 17, 2018
Interesting look at Ohio and West Virginia history. I think I was particularly interested because I live in the area the book was set in.
July 21, 2012
My dad encouraged me to read this book back when I was eight. "Betty Zane" was the first book I checked out from the Adult Section of the Westlake Branch of the Daly City Public Library and I needed Dad's permission.
Many years--and the Internet--later, I re-read the story of Betty and her race to save Ft. Henry. Since Betty is an ancestor of Mr. Gray, her life has been cleaned up, as has the life of the pioneers. Written in 1908, the book reflects the prejudice of the times: Native Americans are "redskins" and are alternately noble or ruthless savages; African-Americans are "negroes" or "niggers" depending on the level of education of the speaker; the settlers are brave and hard-working.
But not all is stereotype. Col. Zane acknowleges promises made to the Natives have been broken and their grievances are real. Wetzel has vowed vengeance on the tribe that slaughtered hks parents and baby sister, burning their cabin. He is a tragic figure, doomed to love someone he cannot have and unable to settle in one place.
As for our heroine, she is plucky, brave, beautiful, impetuous, and headstrong. Raised in Philadelphia, she must learrn to live in pioneer society, although the Zanes are well-enough established that they have a large home (Betty has her own room) and domestic help.
So why four stars? Because Betty is a heroine of the Revolutionary War whose story should be told, the perspective of the early pioneers shou,d not be lost,and because it's a view of world that was once acceptable and, thankfully, no longer is.
One more point: it's odd to read of "the taming of the West" and realize the area is Wheeling, West Virginia!
Many years--and the Internet--later, I re-read the story of Betty and her race to save Ft. Henry. Since Betty is an ancestor of Mr. Gray, her life has been cleaned up, as has the life of the pioneers. Written in 1908, the book reflects the prejudice of the times: Native Americans are "redskins" and are alternately noble or ruthless savages; African-Americans are "negroes" or "niggers" depending on the level of education of the speaker; the settlers are brave and hard-working.
But not all is stereotype. Col. Zane acknowleges promises made to the Natives have been broken and their grievances are real. Wetzel has vowed vengeance on the tribe that slaughtered hks parents and baby sister, burning their cabin. He is a tragic figure, doomed to love someone he cannot have and unable to settle in one place.
As for our heroine, she is plucky, brave, beautiful, impetuous, and headstrong. Raised in Philadelphia, she must learrn to live in pioneer society, although the Zanes are well-enough established that they have a large home (Betty has her own room) and domestic help.
So why four stars? Because Betty is a heroine of the Revolutionary War whose story should be told, the perspective of the early pioneers shou,d not be lost,and because it's a view of world that was once acceptable and, thankfully, no longer is.
One more point: it's odd to read of "the taming of the West" and realize the area is Wheeling, West Virginia!
July 19, 2021
Betty Zane was an interesting look at life for early settlers in what is now West Virginia in the time of the Revolutionary War. Betty Zane was an ancestor to Zane Grey and he took a diary provided to him by a family member to construct this novel. There are two more books featuring Betty, but I doubt I will read them. While interesting the main reason I read this was that I had a cousin who at one time owned the complete set of Zane Grey novels and I was so impressed that I wanted to at least try one. At the time when we visited my cousin I did not have very many books of my own as we could not afford them so having a complete set of books really made a lasting impression.
Inspired by the life and adventures of his own great-great aunt, Betty Zane was Zane Grey's first novel and launched his career as a master writer of rousing frontier and Western adventures.
Betty Zane is the story of the events culminating in the last battle of the American Revolution, when two hundred Redcoats from British-controlled Detroit along with four hundred Shawnee Indian attacked the small, wood-palisaded Ford Henry on the western frontier. The heroine of the battle--a young, spunky, and beautiful frontier girl--was Betty Zane
Inspired by the life and adventures of his own great-great aunt, Betty Zane was Zane Grey's first novel and launched his career as a master writer of rousing frontier and Western adventures.
Betty Zane is the story of the events culminating in the last battle of the American Revolution, when two hundred Redcoats from British-controlled Detroit along with four hundred Shawnee Indian attacked the small, wood-palisaded Ford Henry on the western frontier. The heroine of the battle--a young, spunky, and beautiful frontier girl--was Betty Zane
June 14, 2011
Fun! Mindless and easy frontier novel. Grey's characters are perfectly, hilariously, chaste and sexless. Of course all of the settlers have a fine eye, broad chest, and a stout heart. The villains are hard to miss (dirty, dark-minded).
What I found most interesting is that Zane Grey, a descendant, changes Betty's story a fair bit. In some internet accounts - including the Elizabeth Zane DAR! - they reprint Grey's version of events. But according to other sources (museums, academic papers), Betty was perhaps not so chaste. She may have had a daughter out of wedlock and married twice to other guys after that. Grey's impulse to rewrite frontier history is clear in this account.
And the book's duplicity in dealing with the Native American: eulogizing the tribes while justifying their removal. While saying that Ebenezer Zane was a great friend to the Indian, he also quotes Ebenezer as saying that when his son grows up (10 years from that moment), there will be no more Indians. And that says it all.
What I found most interesting is that Zane Grey, a descendant, changes Betty's story a fair bit. In some internet accounts - including the Elizabeth Zane DAR! - they reprint Grey's version of events. But according to other sources (museums, academic papers), Betty was perhaps not so chaste. She may have had a daughter out of wedlock and married twice to other guys after that. Grey's impulse to rewrite frontier history is clear in this account.
And the book's duplicity in dealing with the Native American: eulogizing the tribes while justifying their removal. While saying that Ebenezer Zane was a great friend to the Indian, he also quotes Ebenezer as saying that when his son grows up (10 years from that moment), there will be no more Indians. And that says it all.
January 10, 2019
First off, I really enjoy Zane Grey. The Indians [Native Americans] and the settlers / soldiers / hunters are authentic. What the reader will appreciate is that there were no good or bad settlers, nor were there good or bad Indians -- as a Group. There were repeated attempts on both sides to reach peace agreements and repeated attempts to get along, but history dictates what really happened.
As to Betty, Grey describes her as the real deal. A pretty young woman who is attracted by men. And they are indeed attracted to her. And yet, she can run [and outrun men] and ride horses [and outride men on horses]. She is not afraid of danger and does what needs to be done despite peril to herself. Her one fault perhaps is that she does not see peril on occasion and has to be yanked into safety.
This is an OLD book that I have had for many years, dated 1940. As I read it, I recalled that I had read it previously many years ago, but that did not detract from my enjoyment. ANY Zane Grey is a great find and worth reading.
As to Betty, Grey describes her as the real deal. A pretty young woman who is attracted by men. And they are indeed attracted to her. And yet, she can run [and outrun men] and ride horses [and outride men on horses]. She is not afraid of danger and does what needs to be done despite peril to herself. Her one fault perhaps is that she does not see peril on occasion and has to be yanked into safety.
This is an OLD book that I have had for many years, dated 1940. As I read it, I recalled that I had read it previously many years ago, but that did not detract from my enjoyment. ANY Zane Grey is a great find and worth reading.
August 23, 2016
The style of writing is so beautiful! It's like looking at a gorgeous painting in a museum and you can't take your eyes off it! Love, love, love his writing style.
With that said, I don't like reading books with people's names for titles. I don't know why. Especially women's names. It's an odd thing and I'm missing out on some great classics ("Rebecca" comes to mind). But I finally decided to read Betty Zane because Zane Grey is known for westerns and i am a fan of western stories. The first page talks about the area that becomes known as Wheeling, WV and the Ohio River! This is right across the way from where my family roots are! So I dove in.
What I found was a beautiful tale where everyone was a main character, and the heroes were hatable, and the villains were misunderstood. It portrayed the historical heroism of one woman as an everyday here's-how-it-reallywent kind of way. Which I totally appreciated. The realistic events that happened.
With that said, I don't like reading books with people's names for titles. I don't know why. Especially women's names. It's an odd thing and I'm missing out on some great classics ("Rebecca" comes to mind). But I finally decided to read Betty Zane because Zane Grey is known for westerns and i am a fan of western stories. The first page talks about the area that becomes known as Wheeling, WV and the Ohio River! This is right across the way from where my family roots are! So I dove in.
What I found was a beautiful tale where everyone was a main character, and the heroes were hatable, and the villains were misunderstood. It portrayed the historical heroism of one woman as an everyday here's-how-it-reallywent kind of way. Which I totally appreciated. The realistic events that happened.
May 1, 2021
This is a story of pioneer families involved in the first “western expansion” in America. It takes place during the Revolutionary War time period. Pioneers from the east have started a new settlement on the Ohio River in what today is Wheeling, West Virginia. The author traces many of his ancestors to the people at the center of this story. The title character, Betty Zane is at the center of the romantic aspect of this story as well as some heroic action taken during an Indian attack on Fort Henry. The migration of white people into Indian country created conflicts and tension between the races. Since the Revolutionary War is part of the story, the British become involved as allies of the Indians. The action scenes are well written with vivid, lively descriptions. It is an adventure yarn pass along as family folklore that is put into a fuller context of that time period that brings the challenges of early pioneers and those stories to life.
August 3, 2021
Glorious.
A delightful boys own frontier adventure with added romance. Zane Grey writes gorgeous descriptions of the landscape (unspoiled by the trappings of civilisation) where the women are plucky and the men bold and brave. It’s a beautiful story about a time long gone (which perhaps never existed).
A bit like Anne of Green Gables with added excitement, or Little House on the Prairie for grown ups. The language is old fashioned and the Manifest Destiny themes can be cloying. He describes a tumultuous time when Patriot settlers were harried by Native Americans in league with the British. He tries to be even-handed in his descriptions of the ‘Indians’ but even the good ones are a bit noble savage. The settlement sits in modern West Virginia at the end of the 18th century and the protagonists have slaves.
It’s old fashioned, it’s ’of its time’ but it’s a fun story beautifully told.
A delightful boys own frontier adventure with added romance. Zane Grey writes gorgeous descriptions of the landscape (unspoiled by the trappings of civilisation) where the women are plucky and the men bold and brave. It’s a beautiful story about a time long gone (which perhaps never existed).
A bit like Anne of Green Gables with added excitement, or Little House on the Prairie for grown ups. The language is old fashioned and the Manifest Destiny themes can be cloying. He describes a tumultuous time when Patriot settlers were harried by Native Americans in league with the British. He tries to be even-handed in his descriptions of the ‘Indians’ but even the good ones are a bit noble savage. The settlement sits in modern West Virginia at the end of the 18th century and the protagonists have slaves.
It’s old fashioned, it’s ’of its time’ but it’s a fun story beautifully told.
August 5, 2018
I'm not sure I'd call this a western since it takes place in Ohio, but compared to Virginia, where some of the characters were born, yep, it's a western.
Also it was written in 1903. That presents problems as to some of the word choices (the N-word) and situations (with Native Americans). Maybe they were true, but of course, this book is written from the white man-s viewpoint.
It is very melodramatic (partially due to the narrator, partially the writing). I was just waiting for fair Betty to be tied to the railroad tracks and yell, "Help me! Help me!"
Some of the language seemed too formal. At one point someone said something like, "Once we commence to fish..." Commence to fish???
This is my first Zane Grey. I read it for my library's book discussion. I guess it's an insight into the beginnings of my home state.
Also it was written in 1903. That presents problems as to some of the word choices (the N-word) and situations (with Native Americans). Maybe they were true, but of course, this book is written from the white man-s viewpoint.
It is very melodramatic (partially due to the narrator, partially the writing). I was just waiting for fair Betty to be tied to the railroad tracks and yell, "Help me! Help me!"
Some of the language seemed too formal. At one point someone said something like, "Once we commence to fish..." Commence to fish???
This is my first Zane Grey. I read it for my library's book discussion. I guess it's an insight into the beginnings of my home state.
January 30, 2019
I finished this book mostly out of curiosity and to give me something to gauge future Zane Grey books I read against. The story and writing was probably very true to its time, but there is quite a bit of racist and sexist language in this. Betty is the herione of the book, but she is made to be overly emotional and unable to think clearly when handsome men are around. In addition, I listened to this through our libraries OverDrive system, and I was really disappointed that the male reader couldn't do a decent voice for Betty - the title character. I mean, come on, that should be the biggest requirement in casting a reader!!
Parents: The N word is used several times, other racist slang is used, there are a couple of mentions of people longing to get home to their plantations with slaves, and women are definitely for show and to support their men.
Parents: The N word is used several times, other racist slang is used, there are a couple of mentions of people longing to get home to their plantations with slaves, and women are definitely for show and to support their men.
May 5, 2008
This book is classified as a western, but don't let that fool you. It IS a western in the sense that at the end of the 1800's Ohio constituted the western border of the American colonies. I was interested in this series because my ancestors lived at the same time and place and probably knew the characters (for they are historical figures) Grey writes about. But even if you don't have personal ties to the setting, this series is a worthwhile read for anyone. It is accurate in it's portrayal of the lives and times of these early pioneers and helps one to see the sacrifices that our nation was founded upon. Besides all that, Grey weaves lovely and pure romances into the stories to keep my girlish heart intrigued and delighted. They are a wonderful choice for a rainy afternoon.
August 18, 2009
I'm not really a fan of westerns, but I liked this book. It was hard to read about the terrible things that human beings did to each other, and I loved that Zane Grey tried to be fair to the Native Americans before the time of political correctness. They were still the very bad guys, but there was an attempt at least to understand their motives. And I actually liked how he portrayed women. Again, writing in a time when women were regarded as only the fairer sex, he gave the women in his story a little gumption and a lot of courage. And the story itself was incredible. I couldn't put the book down when the fort was undersiege.
September 19, 2010
This is one of three books that Zane Grey wrote of the time, happenings, and actualy incidents that occurred in the lives of his ancestors who were pioneers into the Ohio wilderness. Ebenezer Zane was the founder of what is now Wheeling, West Virgina; Isaac Zane lent his name to current day Zanesville, Ohio. Betty Zane was a pioneer ancestress who enacted a brave part in frontier history. Grey's books are simplistic when compared to James Fennimore Cooper's novels set in the same time period, but provide color, excitement, adventure and personal insights. Also a bit of actual history mixed in there.
October 4, 2015
This was a little different from the other Zane Grey stories that I have read. This was more of a work of historical fiction centered on the trials and heroism of Betty Zane, the sister of Col. Ebenezer Zane. Because of his successful defense of Ft. Henry, he was given several other plots of land including what would become Zanesville. The courtship of Betty by several suitors was woven throughout the story that reached its climax with a battle against the British and the Indians. Betty's heroic action saved the Fort and the settlers nearby in what would become Wheeling, WV. I look forward to reading more of Zane Grey's stories of the frontier.
February 4, 2017
Slight spoiler, but not really.
Nice story of Col. Zane's sister Elizabeth. Part love story, part adventure, the story lags some but is still well written and interesting. I love Betty's spunk and bravery, which are abounding in all things but love. Isn't that the way it usually is? Although it's based on a true story and real people, it is highly dramatized and details were heavily changed. The real Betty was married twice, and had a child before her first marriage to Ephraim McLaughlin with whom she had four children. Her 2nd husband was Jacob Clark, not Alfred. Seems Mr. Grey cleaned up the wild acts of his great grand aunt, but thankfully left her wild spirit intact.
Nice story of Col. Zane's sister Elizabeth. Part love story, part adventure, the story lags some but is still well written and interesting. I love Betty's spunk and bravery, which are abounding in all things but love. Isn't that the way it usually is? Although it's based on a true story and real people, it is highly dramatized and details were heavily changed. The real Betty was married twice, and had a child before her first marriage to Ephraim McLaughlin with whom she had four children. Her 2nd husband was Jacob Clark, not Alfred. Seems Mr. Grey cleaned up the wild acts of his great grand aunt, but thankfully left her wild spirit intact.
January 9, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable read, particularly so since I am originally from Ohio and went to school in the southeastern portion. The Ohio River and Wheeling are well known to me. I enjoyed the fact that this book was based on the family of Zane Grey. I was not expecting to enjoy this first book of the e-book collection I bought, but it was a nice, easy read. I find the life depicted on the frontier and the views of the British, the native Americans, and the settlers fascinating as well as the interactions between them. It is also nice that despite the place women had in society, to see women in roles of importance to society and to the survival of the frontier life.
August 12, 2020
Set in the Ohio Valley in the early 19th century, tells the story of the early American settlers of the area as they struggle to settle the land and of their clashes with the Indians.
Betty Zane, a fictionalized narrative of an ancestor who heroically saved Fort Henry in 1782, was Zane Grey's first novel. He accomplished this feat using the pattern he studied from Owen Wister's The Virginian.
Descriptions put me into the story. I could feel the cold rain. The warm fireplace. A fast-running creek. Inside an Indian camp, then an escape from the camp.
I grew to know the characters. Betty is stubborn, feisty, and determined. The author put me in the wild west.
Betty Zane, a fictionalized narrative of an ancestor who heroically saved Fort Henry in 1782, was Zane Grey's first novel. He accomplished this feat using the pattern he studied from Owen Wister's The Virginian.
Descriptions put me into the story. I could feel the cold rain. The warm fireplace. A fast-running creek. Inside an Indian camp, then an escape from the camp.
I grew to know the characters. Betty is stubborn, feisty, and determined. The author put me in the wild west.
November 29, 2022
I decided to read this book after reading some historical articles about Lewis Wetzel. One mentioned that he was associated with the Zanes. Since I live in Ohio and now live near Zanesfield, I went looking for Zane Grey books and discovered “Betty Zane.”
I enjoyed the book. I’m not going to research the historicity of it, but as far as a story about his family history and some of the early settlements along the Ohio, it serves its purpose. The language is more flowery than modern books, but I liked taking the time to enjoy the scenery instead of plowing through the action.
I plan on reading the other two books in this series.
I enjoyed the book. I’m not going to research the historicity of it, but as far as a story about his family history and some of the early settlements along the Ohio, it serves its purpose. The language is more flowery than modern books, but I liked taking the time to enjoy the scenery instead of plowing through the action.
I plan on reading the other two books in this series.
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June 7, 2023I'll probably never finish this novel. I've stalled out somewhere midway, and the repetitions are getting to me. I never want to hear about the astonishing horse jump again, I can't bear it.
This is not a bad book, but it isn't interesting. I also know how it ends since this very lengthy novel was retold much better in a 3 page treatment in my Pioneers and Patriots volume of Childcraft. I loved that book.
This is not a bad book, but it isn't interesting. I also know how it ends since this very lengthy novel was retold much better in a 3 page treatment in my Pioneers and Patriots volume of Childcraft. I loved that book.
February 8, 2017
I have never read a Zane Grey novel. I grew up hearing that we were related to Lew Wetzel. I recently did some genealogy and found the connection so decided to read this book. The book was very descriptive and sometimes exciting. The true tragedy was what was happening to the indigenous people at this time. They were described with admiration for the most part. it was of course understood that this "place" was not not for them any longer. Lew Wetzel spent his life killing Indians and appeared to be a rather anti social psycopath.
January 8, 2015
I enjoyed The Last Trail by Grey and heard that it was the third in the trilogy, Betty Zane being the first. Since the Last Trail is vintage fiction, there are VERY negative stereotypes of American Indians and also the unfortunate use of the "n" word (once). But it was a rollicking good story.
In Betty Zane it's a bit harder to ignore the stereotypes. Both the settlers and the Native Americans are bloodthirsty savages. For that reason it wasn't as good as Last Trail.
In Betty Zane it's a bit harder to ignore the stereotypes. Both the settlers and the Native Americans are bloodthirsty savages. For that reason it wasn't as good as Last Trail.
August 8, 2018
I have read a lot of Zane Grey as well as other western writers, and he is still my favorite of those. He always has just a bit of romance in an otherwise rough life of the west. This story is about the Zane family, notably Isaac Zane and his Indian wife as well as Johnathon Zane and Lew Wetzel, but the book was probably named after Betty who made a brave foot run to get gun powder during their siege.
A great read.
A great read.
August 25, 2018
Zane Grey's first novel. Situated on the Ohio River in what became Wheeling, West Virginia is a little enclave of pioneers scratching out a living while nervously holding off the Indians of the region. Betty Zane is the only sister among several brothers, but she is as brave and as spirited as any of the men. Of course she finds true love among the handsome men at the fort but the descriptions of life and the natural world around them is the best part of the story.
June 20, 2020
I really liked this book. It had romance, adventure, and interesting characters. Loosely based on a true story of the author’s ancestors during the pre-revolutionary and revolutionary war time, I found the author’s style and descriptions enjoyable to read. Published in 1903, there is no political correctness. I believe the writing was probably very true to its time. There is quite a bit of racist and sexist language throughout. It makes me happy to see how far we have come since then.
February 8, 2022
Written in honor of the only Zane sister, Betty, this book in reality honors the others in Betty's circle as well; namely, her sisters -in- law Bessie and Myreeah. It highlights the many roles pioneer women played in the Ohio River Valley frontier during the late 1700's not the least of which was nursemaid to those wounded or injured at the hands of wayward Indians in retaliation for wrongdoings of their fellow white men.
May 25, 2023
Betty Zane
First published in 1903, this is an interesting story of the Zane family and the siege of Fort Henry in 1782, written as an historical novel. There are a few words and attitudes that our society today would not find acceptable, but are to be expected given the date written and the time period the siege occurred.
First published in 1903, this is an interesting story of the Zane family and the siege of Fort Henry in 1782, written as an historical novel. There are a few words and attitudes that our society today would not find acceptable, but are to be expected given the date written and the time period the siege occurred.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews