Adventures of Radisson

Spring 1651: a young man from Paris lands in Trois-Rivières on the St. Lawrence River. Within weeks, the course of his life changes drastically when Iroquois braves capture him. Pierre-Esprit Radisson, then 15 years old, begins a new life. Canoeing rivers and lakes and portaging over mountains, Radisson's captors take him to distant lands where first they torture him and adopt him as their brother. Radisson then becomes the Iroquois Orinha, goes to war with his new brothers, and learns the life and the ways of his new family.

In the spring of 1651, a 15-year-old Parisian, Pierre-Esprit Radisson, lands in Trois-Rivières on the St. Lawrence River. Within weeks, the course of his life changes dramatically when Iroquois braves capture him. Canoeing across rivers and lakes and portaging over mountains, Radisson's captors take him to distant lands where they first torture him, then adopt him as a brother. In this first tome of the adventures of North America's most famous coureur des bois-an independent entrepreneurial woodsman-Radisson recounts his journey throughout North America and his adoption by the Iroquois. This book, which explores a continent's history in an era of bravery and heroism, is the stuff of legend.

After spending two years with his new Iroquois family as described in Volume 1, Pierre-Esprit Radisson escapes and sails across the Atlantic to Holland before boarding ship to head down the west coast of France. Using his wits and the skills picked up in the New World, he makes his way up the Loire and arrives in Paris hoping to find his mother. But war for the succession of the king of France has razed the faubourg where he had lived with his family. What has happened to his mother? Obsessed with returning to New France and the way of life he now loves, Radisson agrees to sign on with the Jesuits who are intent on evangelizing the New World. His return to the St. Lawrence Valley also means assuming responsibility for his past, his capture by the Iroquois and the death of his friends, but also honouring his commitment to the Jesuits and living a less adventurous life... at least temporarily. But the New World is rife with challenges and conflict as cultures and economies collide. His mastery of the Mohawk language and knowledge of Mohawk culture make him a much-needed strategist and diplomat as plans are hatched to establish a new mission in the heart of Iroquois territory, which until recently was home to New France's mortal enemy.

The next installment in the series, this book follows the young, 17th-century explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson from North America to France and back, with plenty of excitement along the way After spending two years with his new Iroquois family, Radisson escapes and sails across the Atlantic to Holland before boarding ship to head down the west coast of France. Using his wits and the skills picked up in the New World (present-day Canada), he makes his way up the Loire and arrives in Paris. But war for the succession of the king of France has razed the faubourg where he had lived with his family. So Radisson agrees to sign on with the Jesuits who are intent on evangelizing the New World. His return to the St. Lawrence Valley means assuming responsibility for his past, but also honoring his commitment to the. The New World is rife with challenge and conflict as cultures and economies collide. His mastery of the Mohawk language and knowledge of their culture make him a much-needed strategist and diplomat as plans are hatched to establish a new mission in the heart of Iroquois territory, which until recently was home to New France's mortal enemy.

Courage, diplomacy, love, and conspiracy make for an action-packed adventure in a little-known past. This third instalment of the series continues Radisson's adventures with the Jesuits and the Iroquois. Mastering the Iroquois language and customs, Radisson leads a mission of French traders and Jesuits to Onondaga in an attempt to build alliances and trade for much-prized furs. But it quickly becomes apparent that the Iroquois are bitterly divided over whether or not to welcome the French and their missionaries among them. Radisson's skills in diplomacy are tested, as he tempers the ardour of the Jesuits and calms the arrogant and distrustful French traders, and cultivates friendships with the Iroquois who favour peace. With their lives at stake, Radisson and Father Ragueneau devise a secret plan to escape. During the ordeal he also learns that peace is worth far more than war, a principle that will guide him in the future. Based on true events as recounted by Radisson, “The Incredible Escape, Volume 3 of The Adventures of Radisson” will thrill readers young and old, recounting the early history of North America in modern accessible language.

Based on true events, this novel recounts the early history of North America in modern accessible language. The third installment of the series continues Radisson's adventures with the Jesuits and the Iroquois. Radisson's skills in diplomacy are tested, as he tempers the ardour of the Jesuits and calms the arrogant and distrustful French traders, and cultivates friendships with the Iroquois who favour peace. Courage, diplomacy, love, and conspiracy make for an action-packed adventure in a little-known past.