Book review - "The White Devil" by Stephen Brumner

Interesting account of the legendary raid by Robert Rogers during the French Indian Wars. Rogers has a mixed legacy to Americans, who have the Rangers military group named after him and who was immortalised on screen in Northwest Passage, but whose name is a bit on the nose because he sided with the British during the Revolution. This book centres around the famous raid of Rogers that featured in this film, but adds lots of context and side detail. The central raid is thrilling reading, a real time of endurance, though it was a time when you had to endure. I couldn't get over how many white people lived with Indians quite happily, and how multi cultural the Indians were. The Indians were a complex, mixed breed - they seemed nice and kind on one hand (even the most bloodthirsty), but then would turn around and burn people alive or torture them to death. Well researched book which occasionally gets bogged down in detail but is full of memorable moments and seems to be fair. Poor Rogers had a hard time of it in later life, becoming an alcoholic and dying penniless. It seems the French were actually better soliders and fighters in this war - but the Brits had more money and good men when it was needed (eg Wolfe, Rogers).