La Belle Famille
The title refers to a battle fought in the Niagara region of New York during the French and Indian War. The novel is about the adventures of two German immigrant sisters and the French soldier they become involved with leading up to the battle. Lidia and Sofie’s parents and siblings were killed by French troops two years earlier, and now in 1759, the sisters encounter Adam, a member of the unit which killed their family, but who is now seriously wounded. Lidia wants to kill him off, but Sofie prevents her, saying murder is a sin. They find a message among Adam’s effects that would help the British defend against the advancing French troops. Despite Lidia’s protests, Sofie insists she stay and care for Adam while Sofie sets off with her baby on her back to find her husband among the British troops and deliver the message. In the meantime, the French catch up with Lidia and Adam and threaten to execute him for desertion.
I enjoyed the refreshingly underused setting. The characters are complex and interesting. Adam and Lidia begin to feel an attraction to each other, despite supporting different sides of the conflict. The German community where the girls had lived had warm relations with the Native Americans, enabling the girls to act as interpreters and receive aid on their journeys. The emphasis of the story is the journey. The battle is the focus only in the last few chapters, so readers need not be fans of military history to enjoy it, and will appreciate the satisfying ending.
