Do you ever find yourself reading a book and suddenly making connections throughout the text that seem unlikely? If you do, then you know what it is like to read Arundel by Kenneth Roberts. The book will have you constantly thinking about the storyline, how different things connect, and how something that may have seemed insignificant at the time is actually a major point in the story and has an effect on later happenings in the book. 

Arundel is a historical novel written by Kenneth Roberts in 1929, based in Arundel, Maine, during the time leading up to and during the American Revolution. It follows the story of Stephen Nason as he transitions from boyhood to adolescence and experiences romance and heartbreak as a young man, eventually taking up arms with Colonel Benedict Arnold and protecting the Northwoods from British Invaders from Boston in the south and Quebec in the north. Stephen also works hard at keeping relationships with local natives peaceful as they are a vital part of survival and trade in Maine. 

Throughout Stephen’s journey, he encounters many people who prove to be individuals that are vital pieces of the figurative puzzle of keeping peace in Maine. One of those characters is Paul Higgins. Paul Higgins is kind of the definition of a lone wolf and is someone who you would not expect to have any impact on the story based on his first encounters with Stephen. Higgins goes from some nomad in a tavern with his freshly hunted ducks strung over his shoulder to a massively important “asset” who secures trade deals and treaties with the Natives, even going to live with them as he forms such a strong connection with the chief. 

Cap Huff (Cap for short) is another one of these characters. He is the kind of person who you might identify as a “Revolutionary War Redneck”; huge, loud, stubborn, and always looking for someone to p*ss off. Cap is a guy who is recruited along with Paul Higgins and Stephen to work with Colonel Arnold to keep the north country secure and Brit-free. At first, it seems as though Cap might be the guy who causes failure in the group’s mission, but he subtly turns out to be the opposite. While he may seem like a rogue character with his hair on fire, he is one of those who you have to take a step back from and really think about his impact on the story, and once you do that you realize how complex he is as a character and how necessary he was to keep the story balanced and all the characters in check. 

Last but not least, Stephen Nason is definitely a character who cannot be overlooked in this aspect. From when he starts the journey of trying to find the girl he loves to eventually getting caught up the in War, Roberts reveals Nason’s motives slowly but surely as the story progresses. For example, whenever Stephen and the gang are moving around the state and visiting different Native camps trying to trade and strike peace deals, Stephen is always a little more inquiring than the others when asking if the Natives at any camp have seen a “striking girl.” This is just one of many examples in the book where, even if it is not a huge plot line throughout the whole story, there are still connections to be made through almost every event in the story. 

Overall, Arundel is a very complex book that is not an easy read, but if you’re willing to think and can comprehend what happens, it is a very enjoyable book to read and is very educational if you are interested in geography, history, and geopolitical complexities of the mid-18th century. What I took away from this book in terms of real-life applications/lessons is that sometimes you just have to go with the flow and whatever happens happens. This can be seen when Stephen sets out as a young man to find a girl he is in love with after he hears she has been captured by enemy Natives, leading him to encounter Benedict Arnold and get swept up into a new life of guerilla warfare, negotiation, and protecting his homelands. In terms of direct messages from the plot of the book, it shows that sometimes you can seem to lose sight of what is important, which may end up better for you in the end, which can also be signified by Stephen’s journey taking a turn when he joins with Arnold. 

So, with all that being said, I would give Arundel by Kenneth Roberts a solid 8.5 out of 10. It is a great story but certainly not a book to read just to read, it requires thought and complex thinking to completely understand.