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New Zealand Wars #2
Monday's Warriors
‘Between one luckless general and the next,’ writes Maurice Shadbolt, ‘there is a fleck of fable in history's eye called Kimball Bent . . .’
What a fleck and what a fable! Frontier tales don't come much wilder and taller than Monday’s Warriors. What makes it the most extraordinary is that most of it happens to be true. This is the rich and reverberant story of Kimball Bent of Sodom Docks (State of Maine, USA) who blundered into the British Army in the middle of the nineteenth century and was borne away to battle with godly rebel Maori in distant New Zealand. At the wrong end of one too many court martials, the flogged and confused Yankee deserts across battle lines on to the wrong side - the Maori side - to serve his new friends faithfully as spy, armourer and marksman in possibly the most ferocious colonial war ever fought. Adopted as a grandson by the most robust and resourceful of warrior chiefs, the womanizing, one-eyed and terrible Titokowaru, Kimball finds himself fighting and mostly winning the American Revolution all over again in the misty rain forest and mountains of New Zealand’s North Island.
With one chance leap into legend, Kimball Bent was to become the most unlikely rebel ever to brace the firepower of the British Empire, but Titokowaru and his wild-riding, fierce and feuding lieutenants, the workaday warriors Big, Demon and Toa, were no mean rivals in insurgency. With seldom more than a few dozen fighting men this fervent land-loving Maori foursome was to humble colonist armies and leave the Empire reeling in retreat.
Yet for all its fireworks Monday’s Warriors is more than another war story, more that a mere historical novel. One of the world’s great storytellers, Maurice Shadbolt here gives us a tale rich in humanity, a tale both strange and absurd, comic and horrific, and always with lit with narrative gusto. As Conor Cruise O’Brien said of Season of the Jew, ‘Shadbolt writes admirably with a tautness and an astringent humour rare in the genre.’
What a fleck and what a fable! Frontier tales don't come much wilder and taller than Monday’s Warriors. What makes it the most extraordinary is that most of it happens to be true. This is the rich and reverberant story of Kimball Bent of Sodom Docks (State of Maine, USA) who blundered into the British Army in the middle of the nineteenth century and was borne away to battle with godly rebel Maori in distant New Zealand. At the wrong end of one too many court martials, the flogged and confused Yankee deserts across battle lines on to the wrong side - the Maori side - to serve his new friends faithfully as spy, armourer and marksman in possibly the most ferocious colonial war ever fought. Adopted as a grandson by the most robust and resourceful of warrior chiefs, the womanizing, one-eyed and terrible Titokowaru, Kimball finds himself fighting and mostly winning the American Revolution all over again in the misty rain forest and mountains of New Zealand’s North Island.
With one chance leap into legend, Kimball Bent was to become the most unlikely rebel ever to brace the firepower of the British Empire, but Titokowaru and his wild-riding, fierce and feuding lieutenants, the workaday warriors Big, Demon and Toa, were no mean rivals in insurgency. With seldom more than a few dozen fighting men this fervent land-loving Maori foursome was to humble colonist armies and leave the Empire reeling in retreat.
Yet for all its fireworks Monday’s Warriors is more than another war story, more that a mere historical novel. One of the world’s great storytellers, Maurice Shadbolt here gives us a tale rich in humanity, a tale both strange and absurd, comic and horrific, and always with lit with narrative gusto. As Conor Cruise O’Brien said of Season of the Jew, ‘Shadbolt writes admirably with a tautness and an astringent humour rare in the genre.’
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
184 people want to read
About the author
Maurice Shadbolt
39 books22 followersMaurice Shadbolt was a major New Zealand fiction writer and playwright. He published numerous novels and collections of short fiction, as well as novellas, non-fiction, and a play. His writing often drew on his own family history. Shadbolt won several fellowships and almost every major literary prize, some more than once. He was capped Honorary Doctor of Literature by the University of Auckland in 1997.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 27, 2020
Been wanting to re-read Shadbolt.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday%...
First learned from him in the late '60s. His Isles of the South Pacific
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
***
copied and pasted from "KIRKUS REVIEW
� An American deserts Queen Victoria's army to cast his lot with Maoris fighting to keep their rightful share of New Zealand--in another historical novel by the author of Season of the Jew (1987), etc. Wary readers will encounter none of the bogus reverence that is the curse of most American aboriginal epics in this dry, mildly overlong story of the Maoris' hopeless fight to hold off total European settlement and dominance of their island. The only American touch is the point of view of Kimball Bent, a Maine man who flees the mindless cruelty of the British army that is policing New Zealand's young coastal settlements and runs haphazardly into the arms of rebellious tribes in the hinterlands. Bent had hoped to make it to the South Island gold fields, but the Maoris have other uses for him, and he is required to remain with them. Bent is the furthest thing from Kevin Costner's moony surfin' wolf dancer. Baffled by tribal politics and thoroughly revolted by ceremonial cannibalism, the unsentimental Yankee wants only to get out of the forest and then maybe back to Maine. Skirmish after skirmish with the British gradually wears him down until his loyalties shift to the Maoris. He never gets the hang of cannibalism (most of the Maoris are equally put off), but he does begin to hanker for a chief warrior's daughter who finds him not too unattractive as scrawny white men go. Bent is witness to a string of clever Maori victories that eventually--and very sadly--founder on the wicked rocks of family passions. Clever and unpretentious, remarkable for the subtle anti- touristic depiction of the islands and the natives. Suffers occasionally--but not fatally--from low blood pressure.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday%...
First learned from him in the late '60s. His Isles of the South Pacific
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
***
copied and pasted from "KIRKUS REVIEW
� An American deserts Queen Victoria's army to cast his lot with Maoris fighting to keep their rightful share of New Zealand--in another historical novel by the author of Season of the Jew (1987), etc. Wary readers will encounter none of the bogus reverence that is the curse of most American aboriginal epics in this dry, mildly overlong story of the Maoris' hopeless fight to hold off total European settlement and dominance of their island. The only American touch is the point of view of Kimball Bent, a Maine man who flees the mindless cruelty of the British army that is policing New Zealand's young coastal settlements and runs haphazardly into the arms of rebellious tribes in the hinterlands. Bent had hoped to make it to the South Island gold fields, but the Maoris have other uses for him, and he is required to remain with them. Bent is the furthest thing from Kevin Costner's moony surfin' wolf dancer. Baffled by tribal politics and thoroughly revolted by ceremonial cannibalism, the unsentimental Yankee wants only to get out of the forest and then maybe back to Maine. Skirmish after skirmish with the British gradually wears him down until his loyalties shift to the Maoris. He never gets the hang of cannibalism (most of the Maoris are equally put off), but he does begin to hanker for a chief warrior's daughter who finds him not too unattractive as scrawny white men go. Bent is witness to a string of clever Maori victories that eventually--and very sadly--founder on the wicked rocks of family passions. Clever and unpretentious, remarkable for the subtle anti- touristic depiction of the islands and the natives. Suffers occasionally--but not fatally--from low blood pressure.
August 10, 2020
Came into it with high expectations after 'The House of Strife', and maybe the juxtaposition is why a dislike the sequel. In comparison to the previous work the characters are generally rather flat and uncompelling, the action repetitive, and Shadbolt's prose would seem to have taken a hit.
But to review the book for what it is (rather than in comparison to its studly and witty elder sibling) I still have a gripe, in that from the first I smelled a rat, and that rat's name is James Bellich. Bellich is the archdeacon of early NZ revisionist historians, and Shadbolt thanks him in the book's acknowledgements for his role as an historical advisor. Verily, his rodent-y fingerprints can be found throughout the book. Like most revisionists Bellich's bent aggrandises the Maori and disparages the Briton. Now, anyone with knowledge of NZ's colonial wars cannot make argument that the Maori were not superb warriors and gallant in battle, but to make light of the ability of the Colonial force is to do them discredit. The Forest Rangers under the command of von Tempsky were an extraordinarily effective guerilla force, and one would think that a writer would utilise such an interesting group as best he could. Yet in his book Shadbolt sees them all reduced to bumbling fools. I cannot but think that Shadbolt's worst sin in this is trusting hawkers of false information, rather than intentional inaccuracy.
All the same, the Taranaki Wars deserves a good novel, but this is not the one.
But to review the book for what it is (rather than in comparison to its studly and witty elder sibling) I still have a gripe, in that from the first I smelled a rat, and that rat's name is James Bellich. Bellich is the archdeacon of early NZ revisionist historians, and Shadbolt thanks him in the book's acknowledgements for his role as an historical advisor. Verily, his rodent-y fingerprints can be found throughout the book. Like most revisionists Bellich's bent aggrandises the Maori and disparages the Briton. Now, anyone with knowledge of NZ's colonial wars cannot make argument that the Maori were not superb warriors and gallant in battle, but to make light of the ability of the Colonial force is to do them discredit. The Forest Rangers under the command of von Tempsky were an extraordinarily effective guerilla force, and one would think that a writer would utilise such an interesting group as best he could. Yet in his book Shadbolt sees them all reduced to bumbling fools. I cannot but think that Shadbolt's worst sin in this is trusting hawkers of false information, rather than intentional inaccuracy.
All the same, the Taranaki Wars deserves a good novel, but this is not the one.
May 11, 2017
Shadbolt explores Maori protagonists more deeply in Mondays Warriors. Titokowaru is a fascinating character - a charismatic leader, deeply spiritual yet flawed. New Zealand historians have praised Maori tacticians claiming they have been misrepresented by colonial accounts not not merely beaten and subdued. Titokowaru was a skillful warrior and dominated skirmishes with colonists. Although the Maori's ultimately always fled to the bush and mountains when outnumbered and outgunned. Eventually warriors did lose the ground and the battles however it appears central to their failure was their inability to unite the tribes to fight the common foe. A fascinating read - but perhaps not as strong as season of the Jew. I found this novel did lack humour and Bent is less interesting than George Fairweather. However we are immersed in the Maori camp this time and experiencing the Maori tragedy is sad and moving.
October 26, 2017
Compelling story from the NZ land wars, with the central character being Kimball Bent, an ex US soldier who found himself in the British Army, fighting Maori rebels in Taranaki in the mid 19th century. He deserts the army and finds sanctuary of a sort with local tribes. The central characters in this novel are historical figures - no idea how much the story and the battles are historically accurate but Maurice Shadbolt is a renowned NZ author and there is likely to be a lot of validity to many of the events described. This took me a while and at times it felt like a slog, especially in the middle, but it picked up for me, I think I became accustomed to the cadence and the language, and I started to appreciate the strategies and tactics being employed by the Maori leads.
February 20, 2021
Loved this one. More than house of strife. The main character Kimball Bent is much more likeable and interesting than the house of strife protagonist, and interesting to read about the real man. He was indeed real.
Tītokowaru is a name every NZer should know. I am very happy that my kids will be taught more about Nz history than I was - pretty shocking to think back to what we were taught. MJ Savage was great....not a lot more.
I hope they learn about Titoko. It would be amazing to see his Pā recreated.
Tītokowaru is a name every NZer should know. I am very happy that my kids will be taught more about Nz history than I was - pretty shocking to think back to what we were taught. MJ Savage was great....not a lot more.
I hope they learn about Titoko. It would be amazing to see his Pā recreated.
May 19, 2017
This book grabbed me...really funny. Based on some bits of history. I grabbed at the library, liked the jacket, then realized the story was about a man from Maine who ended up in NZ in the late 1800's and became part of the tribal wars with Tikoho. Really must find another book by Shadbolt. Would recommend it to anyone with any interest in NZ.
August 9, 2020
My husband read this a while ago and didn't comment on it much at all, so I am giving it three stars. I do notice that he has started the third in the trilogy, so it can't have been bad or it would have been passed on unread. Enjoy.
June 18, 2019
fucking awesome
January 30, 2020
Loved this book!
February 11, 2017
A great story with a great cast. The story was full of sass and snark, and could easily read as a conversation between siblings taunting, "I'm not touching you. I'm not touching you." The language was unusually old-fashioned, making the book feel like it had been written in 1890 instead of 1990, which was somewhat offputting. A fantastic read for anyone interested in New Zealand history. I worry that the writing style might be too off-putting for those not already determined to read it. Which is a shame because it was really hilarious while being completely serious and detailed at the same time. Also, extra points to Shadbolt for some truly creative cursing used well.
April 11, 2008
Here's a little a gem of a book.
I'll try to remember as far as my cerebellum can ignite my nerve receptors with serotonin:
The setting is New Zealand of the 1800s.A rebellious British soldier deserts his troop after a few run ins with his superiors. He hooks up with the Maori,who are in a war with the British; he pretty much finds his own little paradise, gets a Maori woman, and has to deal with a few of his own cultural conflicts such as attempting to bring himself to practicing cannibalism.
I found in its own whimsical manner, the book had humor; it wasn't particularly a gratituously violent read either; rather a good little read with some amusing dialogue.
And I learned a bit about New Zealand and its history.
I'll try to remember as far as my cerebellum can ignite my nerve receptors with serotonin:
The setting is New Zealand of the 1800s.A rebellious British soldier deserts his troop after a few run ins with his superiors. He hooks up with the Maori,who are in a war with the British; he pretty much finds his own little paradise, gets a Maori woman, and has to deal with a few of his own cultural conflicts such as attempting to bring himself to practicing cannibalism.
I found in its own whimsical manner, the book had humor; it wasn't particularly a gratituously violent read either; rather a good little read with some amusing dialogue.
And I learned a bit about New Zealand and its history.
June 16, 2015
Maybe better because I read it while in New Zealand, but I really enjoyed this. A bit crude and funny, this is a great story of native courage in the face of white imperialism, with a little New England flavor thrown in. Even better that it's based on a true story! NZ keeps getting better and better.
January 19, 2012
Different war; different narrator (an English deserter serving with the Maori 'rebels'. Again Shadbolt makes his Maori characters sound like crosses between Yoda and Jake the Muss. But who knows? Maybe they did back in the 1860s. Drives home just how futile, yet important, Maori resistance was to the colonists. Rated PG for adult themes, war themes and infrequent coarse language. 3.5/5
May 6, 2013
This was a hard slog to get through. I would not have persisted had I not loved the first in the trilogy, House of Strife, and had the third in my library. It was like being in the movie Groundhog Day but without Annie Mcdowall or the laughs. Nothing happened that I can recall just the same musing over and over in the same style of writing. Best thing about it was finishing.
July 10, 2015
One of those bumbling soldier novels. American Kimball Bent goes AWOL from the British Army, winds up a warrior in a Maori tribe as the New Zealanders try to fight off the empire. Really enjoyable. Bent is an actual historical figure, brought to life here. Fun.
January 1, 2024
Read lots of this at Gaye and Cyril’s staying in their shearer’s quarters at Waihoki Valley.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews