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Washington and Caesar

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Overview

Inspired by a little-known historical fact-that American slaves fought alongside the British in the Revolutionary War-this epic novel tells of a Mount Vernon slave who joins a Loyalist black regiment charged with defeating his former master on the battlefield.

Editorial Reviews

This historical novel dramatizes the American Revolution from the dual viewpoints of George Washington and Caesar, Washington's "dogs boy" slave who escapes Mount Vernon to become a soldier in the Loyal Ethiopians, a unit of runaway slaves who fought alongside the British in exchange for manumission. Cameron hits on the oft-ignored and embarrassing fact that America's fight for freedom from the British never prevented even the most fervent patriot from owning slaves. The exploration of this tragic irony, however, undermines Cameron's effort. Not satisfied with establishing the point and moving into the dense military and political machinations of the ordeal itself, Cameron belabors the issue on almost every page. To the author's credit, his portrayal of George Washington, particularly in the early chapters, is compelling. He humanizes the general and presents him as a modest but self-confident gentlemen farmer who acknowledges his limitations as readily as he embraces his duty. Caesar's initial characterization as a victim of the greatest moral injustice in American history is also believable, but Cameron cultivates in him a near savant precociousness that strains credibility. The novel is meticulously accurate in its historical detail (if sometimes repetitive), but the story meanders in an undisciplined way before finally grinding to a tedious and predictable ending. (Jan. 6) FYI: Cameron is the son half of the father-son team that writes the Alan Craik thriller series under the pseudonym Gordon Kent. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

Author Information

Bio of Christian Cameron

A former naval officer, Christian Cameron is a military historian and leader of one of the most authentic Revolutionary reenactment units in the United States. He lives in Baltimore, MD.

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Additional Info

Imprint

Delacorte Press

Filesize

1.33 MB

Number of Pages

592

eBook ISBN

9780440334774

Excerpt from: Washington and Caesar by Christian Cameron

Great Kanawaha, Ohio country, October 26, 1770

The tall man ' s horse started at the distant shot, and he curbed it firmly, his attention on the woods around him. The sun, far overhead, pierced the canopy of trees with beams that played in shifting patterns on the autumn mold of the forest floor. For a moment his thoughts were in another forest, and the sound of other shots rang in his ears. His horse ' s uneasiness communicated itself to the rest of the horses in the party.

' Hunter ' The other white man stood in his stirrups, as if a few inches of height would improve his view of the woods.

The tall man ' s attention returned to the horses.

' Pompey, if you can ' t control that animal I ' ll have you walk. '

The black man so addressed wheeled his horse in a tight circle, murmuring all the while. His horse stopped fidgeting. The whole party grew still.

The second shot was farther away, the low thump of a musket.

' Crogan said we ' d find a hunting camp. ' The tall man ran his eyes over the rest of his party and touched his heels to his horse ' s flanks, moving off at a trot. He already seemed focused on a distant goal, but the other men, black and white, cast their eyes nervously on the woods around them as they moved off on the narrow track. He slowed his horse to a comfortable walk and flowed in next to the other white man.

' No point in hurry, Doctor. We ' ll need Nicholson to talk to them. '

The doctor seemed oppressed by the shots, but if the tall man noticed it, he gave it no heed.

' You were speaking of the price of tobacco, Colonel. '

' So I was, Doctor. Probably dwelling on it more than is healthy. But if the price continues to fall, we ' ll all have to find another crop or see our sons debtors. '