Adelsverein the Gathering - Book One of The Adelsverein Trilogy, by Celia Hayes

Adelsverein the Gathering
By Celia Hayes

Book One of The Adelsverein Trilogy

This is as well-crafted a historical novel as I have read, reminiscent of so many of the American settler novels beloved by readers. It has the satisfying elements of family, of love born from people who could never have met in a world where people stayed in one place, the challenges of making human habitation out of wilderness, of the clash of the native peoples and the immigrants, and of loss and renewal as the fruit of collective hope.

This is the first novel of the saga following "Vati" Steinmetz, his children and their families as part of a historic venture called the Adlesverein to bring German settlers to settle a part of Texas. Faced with political turmoil and ever-decreasing economic opportunities, emigrants from all over Europe headed for less populated parts of the world in the 19th century. The voyage could be deadly, the disappointments on arrival heart-breaking, but the perseverance and hope shown by these intrepid people provides us, their descendants, with a stron g sense of a not unmixed heritage.

At the center of this story are Magda, Vati's stalwart stepdaughter, and Carl, a third generation German-Texan with a tragic past. Their stories run parallel for much of the novel, following Carl's troubled youth with a heartless father and the death of his beloved brother in a massacre by Santana's Mexican army, while Magda and her family face the miseries of an 1840s sea voyage, disease and deprivation in the New World, and hardships capped with promise as they reach their journey's end. Teh two cross paths when Carl and his soldier companions save Magda's niece from drowning in a river. They diverge again, until Carl comes to the new Herman settlement with a party seeking to create a peace with Comanche tribes. Carl makes his intentions to ask Magda to marry him known, but she is unsure, having another suitor she cares for as well. Meantime, other characters share her joy and loss in the New World, creating strong foundations, both figuratively and literally, out of little more than their own stout determination.

Besides practical Magda and strong, silent Carl, you have here a cast of characters distinct and well drawn. Vati Steinmetz is the dreamer, the philosopher and the loving pater familas. His other daughter, Liesl, is fragile but both adores and utterly trusts her husband, the irrepressibly optimistic Hansi Richter. Among the children, there is the Goofus and Gallant Freddy and Johann, maternal Hannah, and bright as a spring flower Rosalie, the orphan the family brings into their hearts and home when they find her crying by the bodies of her dead parents. Other characters such as the kindly Altmullers, the real-life hero Jack Hayes, and the rival for Magda's affection, Charlie Nimitz, another historical figure, are each as well drawn and memorable as the central characters.

As it happens, I read The Harvesting, the third book of this trilogy first, so knowing what happens to all these people learnt pathos to my own reading of The Gathering.. Hayes' peppering both novels with Magda's reminiscences in a distant future would offer any reader the same pause. It is this aspect of Hayes' storytelling that jarred for me in both books. She assures me she has a good reason for the decision to include these vignettes from 1918, but as the purpose is not evident in either individual volume, I personally don't think they fit. On the other hand, knowing how many of the characters developed after the end of The Gathering gave me added appreciation of the individuals and their growth.

One thing I appreciate about Hayes' Adelsverein novels is her careful treatment of how she depicts the Indians encountered. We are in a time when any negative portrayals of Indians is met with disapproval. Hayes is even-handed, neither vilifying nor idolizing Indian culture. That is refreshing and, of course, more historically sound.

Other than the future vignettes I found this novel to be darn near perfect. completely satisfying, moving, and memorable. As for going on to read the second in the trilogy, knowing what I do I may have to put that off for some time to let my heart's defenses prepare.

This is the novel we read for the online book discussion group, Let's Read Historical Novels, for our March 3 meeting at AccessibleWorld.org. You are all invited to join us to discuss or hear what we all thought and to talk to the author, Celia Hayes