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Iron Pioneers: The Marquette Trilogy: Book One
Back in Boston, the thought of settling in a new land had seemed a romantic adventure to share with her new husband. Now, despite the lush green trees, and the sandy golden beaches, she began to fear what wild animals or unfriendly Indians might lurk in those woods, and she sensed the loneliness to come of being so far from her family. When iron ore is discovered in Michigan s Upper Peninsula in the 1840s, newlyweds Gerald Henning and his beautiful socialite wife, Clara, travel from Boston to the little village of Marquette, on the shores of Lake Superior. The Hennings and their companions Irish and German immigrants, French Canadians, and fellow New Englanders dream of a great metropolis at the center of the iron ore industry. Despite blizzards, near starvation, devastating fires, and financial hardships, these iron pioneers persevere. In time, their wilderness village becomes integral to the Union cause in the Civil War and, then, a prosperous modern city. Meticulously researched, warmly written, and spanning half a century, Iron Pioneers is a testament to the spirit that forged America.
- GenresFiction
492 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2006
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44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 12, 2009
Depth in Literature
The Marquette Trilogy: Book One - Iron Pioneers is the first work I've read by Tyler Tichelaar. Generally, I am a fan of the historical fiction genre anyways, but I chose this book in particular because of the book's setting. A novel about the building of the Marquette, Michigan area as a native of the Great Lakes area myself this book has a special spot in my heart. I've lived on Lake Erie since birth and not only love but appreciate the history behind the Great Lakes area and all it has offered to our Nation as it grew into it's current strength. The small, individual stories behind the growth will never cease to amaze and Iron Pioneers is one of the greatest tributes to these small stories you will ever find.
Iron Pioneers begins with the origins of Marquette, as the "wilderness" slowly grows into a thriving city. The story line itself is interesting enough, but the depth and strength of each and every character involved is simply amazing. As you progress through the story you slowly grow with each character, so strongly that you become one of them. Through the roughest times when there's scarcely going to be enough food to survive a winter in this new uncharted territory, to the times of wealth and richness you bond with the friendships amongst the citizens as the town grows. Simply speaking, the depth & intrigue of the characters alone is a major selling point of this book. It's rare an author can bring so many people to life so easily & so well, but Tyler Tichelaar does just that.
In the beginning, you experience the trials and tribulations of a new land, untouched, trying to become livable. Death seems to be everywhere at some points, making you wonder how or why anyone would have borne the pains they did, simply to bring new wealth & industry to a new nation. As time goes on you watch the children grow into young men and women, finding love, marriage while others find pain, death & hardship. You quickly make your own choices of who to like and dislike, who to cry for and cheer for. Slowly you see a small town come into existence and then a small city. Eventually the growth and development of the area seems amazing and while you recall the painstaking efforts that made Marquette what it became, you quickly forget that so much was lost for so big of a gain. As a reader, Tichelaar seems to be able to pull you into the characters' lives, making you appreciate everything from honorable efforts of a rich, old man who knows his time is limited to the grand ideas and changes of the industrial revolution around them.
Simply put, book one of this Marquette Trilogy is not only the first step of a love formation for the upper Michigan peninsula but for the characters who created it. You're pulled in so deeply that book one finishes with you demanding the rest of the trilogy. It's definitely going to be an addiction, so don't pick it up thinking you can stop!
Amazing writing style, intense characters, amazingly intriguing & realistic plot that's never drudged down with historical "facts" to the point of making you bored. That's a combination that many historical fictions cannot easily bring to life between the pages. Iron Pioneers will guide you through the first years of the City of Marquette and bring you to the realization that you simply want to learn more. Book Two: The Queen City is but a few moments away on my list of books to be read! I can't wait! If you're a historical fiction fan of any type, this is a must read in the genre. If you think you "hate" history & figure "historical fiction" is going to bore you to death you are so wrong! Give this one a try. I guarantee you will be turned on to a whole new genre & definitely onto a whole trilogy of interesting characters you will both love & despise! It's a must read on my list!
The Marquette Trilogy: Book One - Iron Pioneers is the first work I've read by Tyler Tichelaar. Generally, I am a fan of the historical fiction genre anyways, but I chose this book in particular because of the book's setting. A novel about the building of the Marquette, Michigan area as a native of the Great Lakes area myself this book has a special spot in my heart. I've lived on Lake Erie since birth and not only love but appreciate the history behind the Great Lakes area and all it has offered to our Nation as it grew into it's current strength. The small, individual stories behind the growth will never cease to amaze and Iron Pioneers is one of the greatest tributes to these small stories you will ever find.
Iron Pioneers begins with the origins of Marquette, as the "wilderness" slowly grows into a thriving city. The story line itself is interesting enough, but the depth and strength of each and every character involved is simply amazing. As you progress through the story you slowly grow with each character, so strongly that you become one of them. Through the roughest times when there's scarcely going to be enough food to survive a winter in this new uncharted territory, to the times of wealth and richness you bond with the friendships amongst the citizens as the town grows. Simply speaking, the depth & intrigue of the characters alone is a major selling point of this book. It's rare an author can bring so many people to life so easily & so well, but Tyler Tichelaar does just that.
In the beginning, you experience the trials and tribulations of a new land, untouched, trying to become livable. Death seems to be everywhere at some points, making you wonder how or why anyone would have borne the pains they did, simply to bring new wealth & industry to a new nation. As time goes on you watch the children grow into young men and women, finding love, marriage while others find pain, death & hardship. You quickly make your own choices of who to like and dislike, who to cry for and cheer for. Slowly you see a small town come into existence and then a small city. Eventually the growth and development of the area seems amazing and while you recall the painstaking efforts that made Marquette what it became, you quickly forget that so much was lost for so big of a gain. As a reader, Tichelaar seems to be able to pull you into the characters' lives, making you appreciate everything from honorable efforts of a rich, old man who knows his time is limited to the grand ideas and changes of the industrial revolution around them.
Simply put, book one of this Marquette Trilogy is not only the first step of a love formation for the upper Michigan peninsula but for the characters who created it. You're pulled in so deeply that book one finishes with you demanding the rest of the trilogy. It's definitely going to be an addiction, so don't pick it up thinking you can stop!
Amazing writing style, intense characters, amazingly intriguing & realistic plot that's never drudged down with historical "facts" to the point of making you bored. That's a combination that many historical fictions cannot easily bring to life between the pages. Iron Pioneers will guide you through the first years of the City of Marquette and bring you to the realization that you simply want to learn more. Book Two: The Queen City is but a few moments away on my list of books to be read! I can't wait! If you're a historical fiction fan of any type, this is a must read in the genre. If you think you "hate" history & figure "historical fiction" is going to bore you to death you are so wrong! Give this one a try. I guarantee you will be turned on to a whole new genre & definitely onto a whole trilogy of interesting characters you will both love & despise! It's a must read on my list!
January 8, 2010
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I chose this book for review. Its cover, its title or the fact that it’s nearly 500 pages long didn’t initially attract me, but the reviews were very good—not that this always affects the books I choose to read. Well, am I ever glad not to have let these factors stop me from reading an author whom I now consider a master storyteller!
Iron Pioneers is a multigenerational saga, an old-fashioned epic novel not written by many authors today. Taking us back to 1849, this historical fiction tells the story of a handful of courageous men and women who travel to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to settle where iron ore is discovered in Marquette, a small village that would grow into a booming city by the end of that century.
I knew nothing of Marquette or its history and although it’s interesting as is most places that have shaped what is now North America (USA and Canada), this is definitely a character-driven novel. Not only has Tichelaar brought Marquette’s history to life so that even this new land with its bountiful lush forests and breathtaking Lake Superior plays an important role, almost a character in itself, that influences the lives of all who settle there, but he has succeeded in creating a superb cast of colourful characters whom readers will love to love or love to hate for that matter.
We follow several families whose lives intertwine, regardless of social status, in ways that some of them never suspected. We meet the Hennings, whose family head Gerald, a wealthy businessman from Boston taps into the iron industry early on and makes a fortune—a fortune that proves worthless compared to the losses he will face. The Brookfields are a tour de force in the town, shaping its values and loyalty toward their country. The Bergmanns demonstrate that despite the great sacrifices one makes immigrating to a new unknown land, their newfound freedom is worth the cost as a prosperous future opens up before them and their future generations.
I especially liked the way Tichelaar blended these fictional characters with actual historical figures, making the reader almost believe this account was a true rendering of the pioneers. This could only be done because of meticulous research, adding to my enjoyment of this book. The story’s ending left me wanting though, so of course, I can’t wait to read the second and third books in this trilogy, The Queen City and Superior Heritage. This author has also written two other historical fiction novels that are on my TBR list: Narrow Lives and The Only Thing That Lasts.
If you are a fan of American historical novels, this book will not disappoint. On the contrary, it will leave you thirsting for more.
Iron Pioneers is a multigenerational saga, an old-fashioned epic novel not written by many authors today. Taking us back to 1849, this historical fiction tells the story of a handful of courageous men and women who travel to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to settle where iron ore is discovered in Marquette, a small village that would grow into a booming city by the end of that century.
I knew nothing of Marquette or its history and although it’s interesting as is most places that have shaped what is now North America (USA and Canada), this is definitely a character-driven novel. Not only has Tichelaar brought Marquette’s history to life so that even this new land with its bountiful lush forests and breathtaking Lake Superior plays an important role, almost a character in itself, that influences the lives of all who settle there, but he has succeeded in creating a superb cast of colourful characters whom readers will love to love or love to hate for that matter.
We follow several families whose lives intertwine, regardless of social status, in ways that some of them never suspected. We meet the Hennings, whose family head Gerald, a wealthy businessman from Boston taps into the iron industry early on and makes a fortune—a fortune that proves worthless compared to the losses he will face. The Brookfields are a tour de force in the town, shaping its values and loyalty toward their country. The Bergmanns demonstrate that despite the great sacrifices one makes immigrating to a new unknown land, their newfound freedom is worth the cost as a prosperous future opens up before them and their future generations.
I especially liked the way Tichelaar blended these fictional characters with actual historical figures, making the reader almost believe this account was a true rendering of the pioneers. This could only be done because of meticulous research, adding to my enjoyment of this book. The story’s ending left me wanting though, so of course, I can’t wait to read the second and third books in this trilogy, The Queen City and Superior Heritage. This author has also written two other historical fiction novels that are on my TBR list: Narrow Lives and The Only Thing That Lasts.
If you are a fan of American historical novels, this book will not disappoint. On the contrary, it will leave you thirsting for more.
June 17, 2019
It took a bit of patience to read this entire book. It helped that I have been living in the Marquette area since 1984. Some of that time we lived on Ridge St, which is the focus of a fair amount of the book. So I really enjoyed the history, but the stories of the persons often developed slowly. Most impressive was the perseverance of the people who stayed.
January 8, 2016
Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres. I love Marquette. It is, therefore, natural that I'd read a historical fiction novel set in the part of the UP that was to become Marquette. The writing is decent. The stories were good. I'll read the second book in the trilogy (as soon as my dad gives it back!)
June 28, 2008
Love the historical fiction set in my town but am not thrilled with the writer's style... but since he left many issues unresolved at the end of the book, I may just have to read the next book in the series.
January 12, 2014
The writing is just average, but this trilogy, set in Marquette, MI, with its multigenerational cast of characters, does suck you in, like a TV soap opera.
February 7, 2015
A good read for anyone familiar or interested in the history of Marquette, Michigan.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews