Evangeline

Inspired by Longfellow's epic poem, Evangeline is a brilliant novel by Ben Farmer. As the British drive the French out of mid- eighteenth century Acadia (present day Nova Scotia), the beautiful seventeen- year-old Evangeline Bellefontaine is torn by British soldiers from her fiancé, Gabriel Lajeunesse, on the eve of their wedding. Heartbroken but determined, Evangeline-along with illegal trapper Bernard Arseneau and priest Felician Abadie-sets out on a ten-year journey to the French-Spanish colony of Louisiana to seek her long-lost love. War and the collision of imperial interests are among the forces the characters confront throughout their expulsion from their homeland and their hard-won survival in exile. Evangeline's epic quest to find Gabriel brings her and her companions across North America's colonial wilderness, through the French and Indian War, and into New Orleans' rebellion against Spanish rule. It is the strengths and failings of the individuals that drive this grand tale, leading them to bitter confrontations in their search for connection and struggle for survival in a world torn asunder. The legend of Evangeline is still alive in Nova Scotia and Louisiana, where parks, songs, statues, trees, restaurants, and people bear her name.

"Ben Farmer brings a legend to life in Evangeline, evoking with grace and panache the travails of the Acadians in mid-eighteenth century America from Nova Scotia to New Orleans. Farmer is a wonderful storyteller, and readers wont soon forget this tale of love and fortitude. Simply riveting." -Keith Donohue, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Child, and Angels of Destruction

"Majestic and stately as Conrad Richters Awakening Land Trilogy, Evangeline is a big book from a big mind." -Katharine Weber, author of True Confections and Triangle

¦Farmer delivers an evocative impression of American colonial and frontier life; his descriptions of everything from the Maryland frontier to a Louisiana swamp settlement give a real sense of the New World¦s newness. A meticulously-rendered setting . . a passion-driven plot.¦ -- Publishers Weekly

¦Farmer¦s Evangeline will satisfy readers who allow themselves to swoon, who enjoy sentimentality.¦ --ForeWord Reviews

¦Now Farmer has reinvested this classic adventure tale with plenty of historical detail and character traits that will surely bring it alive for many new readers.¦ -- BookReporter.com

"Ben Farmer provides an intriguing novelization of the classic Longfellow poem. The story line brings to life the French-British conflict in North America as it intrudes on colonial existence. Although the history overwhelms the cast even the title character, readers will enjoy Mr. Farmer¦s detailed impressive look at the impact of the hostilities between the French and British had on the North American colonists and the regional Indian tribes". -- Harriet Klausner

¦The book is beautifully written and does a good job of bringing the characters to life.¦ -- Historical Novels Review

¦The book faithfully follows Longfellows poem but adds background material on characters Gabriel Lajeunesse and Evangeline Bellefontaine¦ -- Lafayette Daily Advisor

A brilliant debut novel of an epic love story and harrowing journey from Nova Scotia to New Orleans in pre-Revolutionary America.