Dawn on a Distant Shore [Anglais] [Relié]

Sara Donati's novel Dawn on a Distant Shore picks up soon after the conclusion of her prior book, Into the Wilderness. In the winter of 1794, on the edge of the New York wilderness, Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into the comforts of domestic bliss. Typically, however, adventure seeks these two out. Alone but for her stepdaughter Hannah, Elizabeth gives birth to twins, while Nathaniel and his father Hawkeye are imprisoned in Montreal. Determined to help her men, Elizabeth packs up the children and sets off to free them. Liberty does not bring relief to the Bonner clan, however, as sinister forces conspire to pirate them to Scotland and embroil them in a complex family feud.

History and adventure are slathered on thickly throughout this epic tale. Donati's talent for dialect and detail bring the large cast of characters to life, though the steady pace of dramatic catastrophe is somewhat exhausting. Will our heroes never get a break? Fans of Donati's earlier work will enjoy seeing the familiar characters, but new readers would benefit by reading the books in the series in order. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

In her second foray into the genre, Donati's sequel to Into the Wilderness continues the saga of hunter and trapper Nathaniel Bonner and his wife, Elizabeth, a couple living in upper New York State, America's eastern frontier at the end of the 18th century. As established in the first book, Nathaniel is the son of Scottish-born Daniel "Hawkeye" Bonner, who was raised by Mohawks. The drama is as intriguing as a TV miniseries, and in the conventions of the genre, the dialogue can be stilted and heavy-handed: "'I want you, yes,' she hissed. Because she could not lie to him, or herself. 'But I can't, I can't.'" After celebrating the birth of twins, Nathaniel travels to Canada, where his father has been arrested by the British, to aid his escape. They are discovered, however, and Nathaniel, too, is imprisoned as a spy. Concerned that Nathaniel and Hawkeye will hang if convicted, a worried, brave Elizabeth treks through the wilderness to find her husband, taking along their babies and Nathaniel's 10-year-old daughter from his first marriage. Through a series of intrigues and deceptions, the twins are kidnapped and, to retrieve them, the Bonners are forced to sail to Scotland, where the Earl of Carryck, a distant relative, is determined that these long-lost American kin claim the castle that is their birthright. His motives for taking desperate measures to draw the Bonners to Scotland are political as well as personal, as the book's conclusion reveals. But before the pieces fall together, the adventurous couple encounter much adversity (redcoats, privateers and small-minded society types, to name a few) and many interesting people, like poet Robert Burns in a cameo appearance. In fact, there are so many folks passing through the story that Donati (a pseudonym for PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author Rosina Lippi-Green) thoughtfully provides a list of major characters. The likable protagonists, a multitude of amusing secondary characters and exciting escapades make this a compelling read despite the often overblown language and melodramatic plotting. Agent, Jill Grinberg. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

When Elizabeth Bonner, fresh from childbirth, learns that her husband, Nathaniel, and his father are imprisoned in Montreal, she embarks on a voyage to save them with her infant twins, her stepdaughter, freed slave Curiosity Freeman, and Mohawk Indian Runs-from-Bears. Before returning home, she loses and regains her children; sees her husband shot; witnesses piracy, kidnapping, and murder; and sails to Scotland as part of a scheme to save the land of a laird. That all the events occur within only a few months seems incredible. As in the prequel Into the Wilderness (Bantam, 1998), Donati freely borrows elements from other authors, including James Fenimore Cooper. Her complicated plot contains numerous subplots and side issues that eventually tie together. Readers who enjoy a dollop of American history in a "bodice-ripper" will enjoy this book. It's not great literature, but it's fun.
-Andrea Lee Shuey, Dallas P.L.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner don't want to leave their home deep in the Adirondack mountains, but a distant cousin of Nathaniel's will stop at nothing to lure them to the Scottish home of their ancestors. The adventure includes interracial families, piracy on the high seas, murder and civil unrest. Kate Reading draws us into the story without our having been aware of her performance at all. Her thoughtful and consistent characterizations include dialects of Native American, British and Scottish characters, and the last of these is especially thorough and convincing. Her performance of the very elderly and cantankerous pirate Anne Bonnie brings the historical figure to vivid and colorful life. Reading maintains her involvement in the story right through the last tape, making the listener sorry to see it end. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.

Donati picks up the romantic epic of Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner shortly after the events dramatized in Into the Wilderness in this involving tale. As the second volume begins in 1794, Elizabeth gives birth to twins on the New York frontier, alone except for her young stepdaughter. While the Bonners' married life is still blissful, it is turning out to be too short-lived as word arrives that Nathaniel's father, Hawkeye, is being held in a Canadian prison. Nathaniel rushes to his rescue and then becomes a prisoner himself. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and the babies trek north through the treacherous wilderness waterways during the arduous winter, intent on freeing the Bonner men and their friends. But when they arrive, they discover that the men are already freed. Dontai's vivid re-creation of the danger and chaos of frontier life is a prelude to the novel's most exciting action, which kicks in when the Bonner twins are kidnapped by a man intent on forcing Nathaniel and Buckeye to return to Scotland, where their presence as the heirs of the earl of Carryck is in great demand. A wild race across the sea in a privateer's ship reunites the family only, in yet another reversal, to plunge them into a morass of political intrigue. Donati's skillfully told and captivating romantic historical saga brings a tumultuous era and dashing characters to life in what promises to be a very popular and rewarding series. Diana Tixier Herald

"Better buy some midnight oil, for this hugely satisfying novel is a page-turner." --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.

Praise for Sara Donati's captivating epic Into The Wilderness:

"The author builds a powerful adventure story, animating everyone--German villagers, slaves and Scottish trappers alike--in a gorgeous, vividly described American landscape."
--People

"One of those rare stories that let you breathe the air of another time, and leave your footprints on the snow of a wild, strange place. I can think of no better adventure than to explore the wilderness in the company of such engaging and independent lovers as Elizabeth and her Nathaniel."
--Diana Gabaldon

"Donati's captivating saga is much like the books in Diana Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander series, and it is definitely the romance of the year when it comes to transcending genre boundaries and appealing to readers who love lush historical epics or thrilling backwoods adventure."
--Booklist

"A lushly written novel...Donati, a skillful storyteller, easily weaves historical fact with romantic ambience to create a dense, complex design....Exemplary historical fiction, boasting a heroine with a real and tangible presence."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Remarkable...A vibrant tapestry...Sara Donati is a skilled storyteller who weaves historical facts into a grand adventure of love, mystery, and intrigue. She takes us to an unfamiliar place and allows us to breathe the air of another time.  This is exemplary historical fiction....From page one, the action is nonstop."
--Tulsa World

"An elegant, eloquent word journey...[The author has a] gift for capturing the history and the lives of the people of that time and place."
--The Tampa Tribune

"Epic in scope, emotionally intense...an enrapturing, grand adventure."
--BookPage

"A splendid read...Wonderful reading, suited for a cold winter's night."
--Rocky Mountain News

"Better buy some midnight oil, for this hugely satisfying novel is a page-turner."
--The Orlando Sentinel

"A rich, involving, fully textured tale.  Each time you open a book, you hope to discover a story that will make your spirit of adventure and romance sing. This book delivers on that promise."
--Amanda Quick

"A beautiful tale of both romance and survival...Here is the beauty as well as the savagery of the wilderness and, at the core of it all, the compelling story of the love of a man and a woman, both for the untamed land and for one another."
--Allan W. Eckert


"A powerful adventure story."--People

"A skilled storyteller--. Exemplary historical fiction boasting a heroine with a real and tangible presence."--Kirkus Reviews -->

Sara Donati's debut novel, Into the Wilderness, was hailed as "epic in scope, emotionally intense...an enrapturing, grand adventure" (BookPage) and "a captivating saga...definitely the romance of the year when it comes to transcending genre boundaries" (Booklist). Author Diana Gabaldon called it "one of those rare stories that let you breathe the air of another time, and leave your footprints on the snow of a wild, strange place." Now, in her second novel, this award-winning master storyteller once again blends fact and fiction, and re-creates her beloved characters from Into the Wilderness in an eloquent, enthralling tale of romance and adventure.

Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into their life together at the edge of the New-York wilderness in the winter of 1794 when Elizabeth gives birth to healthy twins. But soon the events in Canada draw Nathaniel far away from his new family. Word has reached them that Nathaniel's father has been arrested by crown officials in British Canada. Nathaniel reluctantly leaves Hidden Wolf Mountain to set out for the distant city, determined to see his father freed. Instead Nathaniel is imprisoned and finds himself in imminent danger of being hanged as an American spy.

In a desperate bid to save her husband, Elizabeth bundles her infants and sets out on the long trek to Montreal. Accompanied by her stepdaughter, Hannah, their wise friend Curiosity Freeman, and Runs-from-Bears, a Mohawk warrior and lifelong friend of Nathaniel's, Elizabeth journeys through the snowy wilderness and across treacherous waterways. But she soon discovers that freeing Nathaniel will take every ounce of her courage and inventiveness. It is a struggle that threatens her with the loss of what she loves most: her children.

Torn apart, the Bonners must embark on yet another perilous voyage...this time all the way across the ocean to the heart of Scotland, where a wealthy earl claims kinship with Nathaniel's father, Hawkeye. In his heart, the Mahican tribe of Hawkeye's youth is the truest kin he will ever know, just as Nathaniel will always remain loyal to the Mohawk nation. But with this journey a whole new world opens up to Nathaniel and Elizabeth--and a destiny they could never have imagined awaits them....

A sweeping epic of romance and adventure, Dawn on a Distant Shore establishes Sara Donati as one of today's most gifted storytellers. With well-drawn characters and an evocative love story that is intricately woven into the rich history of our nation's past, this extraordinary novel will enthrall readers like few others--and sweep them away to a whole other time and place.

14 1.5-hour cassettes --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.

Praise for Sara Donati's captivating epic Into The Wilderness:

"The author builds a powerful adventure story, animating everyone--German villagers, slaves and Scottish trappers alike--in a gorgeous, vividly described American landscape."
--People

"One of those rare stories that let you breathe the air of another time, and leave your footprints on the snow of a wild, strange place. I can think of no better adventure than to explore the wilderness in the company of such engaging and independent lovers as Elizabeth and her Nathaniel."
--Diana Gabaldon

"Donati's captivating saga is much like the books in Diana Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander series, and it is definitely the romance of the year when it comes to transcending genre boundaries and appealing to readers who love lush historical epics or thrilling backwoods adventure."
--Booklist

"A lushly written novel...Donati, a skillful storyteller, easily weaves historical fact with romantic ambience to create a dense, complex design....Exemplary historical fiction, boasting a heroine with a real and tangible presence."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Remarkable...A vibrant tapestry...Sara Donati is a skilled storyteller who weaves historical facts into a grand adventure of love, mystery, and intrigue. She takes us to an unfamiliar place and allows us to breathe the air of another time. This is exemplary historical fiction....From page one, the action is nonstop."
--Tulsa World

"An elegant, eloquent word journey...[The author has a] gift for capturing the history and the lives of the people of that time and place."
--The Tampa Tribune

"Epic in scope, emotionally intense...an enrapturing, grand adventure."
--BookPage

"A splendid read...Wonderful reading, suited for a cold winter's night."
--Rocky Mountain News

"Better buy some midnight oil, for this hugely satisfying novel is a page-turner."
--The Orlando Sentinel

"A rich, involving, fully textured tale. Each time you open a book, you hope to discover a story that will make your spirit of adventure and romance sing. This book delivers on that promise."
--Amanda Quick

"A beautiful tale of both romance and survival...Here is the beauty as well as the savagery of the wilderness and, at the core of it all, the compelling story of the love of a man and a woman, both for the untamed land and for one another."
--Allan W. Eckert

Sara Donati is the winner of the Pen/Hemingway Award for first fiction for her 1998 novel Homestead (written under her real name, Rosina Lippi). She lives with her husband and daughter in the Pacific Northwest, where she teaches creative writing and linguistics at the university level and is working on her next novel.