Stephen Grattan's Faith A Canadian Story By: Margaret M. (Margaret Murray) Robertson (1821-1897)
In "Stephen Grattan's Faith: A Canadian Story", Margaret M. Robertson masterfully weaves a captivating tale set in the heart of 19th century Canada. Through her rich storytelling and intricate character development, the author manages to transport readers not only to a bygone era but also deep into the complexities of human emotions and the power of unwavering faith. The story follows the life of Stephen Grattan, a young man who finds himself torn between his duty to his family and his own aspirations. Robertson skillfully delves into Stephen's internal struggles, taking readers on an emotional journey as he grapples with the desire to honor his family's expectations while following his own dreams. Furthermore, Robertson seamlessly integrates historical events and societal issues of the time, creating a vivid and realistic backdrop against which the characters' lives unfold. Whether it is the political unrest in Canada or the social pressures faced by women, the author effortlessly incorporates these elements into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the story. One of the strengths of this novel lies in the author's ability to breathe life into her characters. From Stephen's strong-willed mother to his loyal best friend, each individual is carefully crafted with their own unique set of motivations and personality traits. This attention to detail allows readers to form strong connections with the characters, evoking empathy and understanding for their choices and struggles. Another commendable aspect of Robertson's writing is her exploration of faith and spirituality. By elegantly intertwining religion into the storyline, she invites readers to contemplate larger questions about their own beliefs and the role faith plays in shaping one's identity. Through Stephen's unwavering faith, the author emphasizes the power of finding solace and purpose in the divine. However, there are moments within the book when the pacing feels slow, and the story could benefit from a tighter focus on the central plot. Occasionally, the numerous subplots detract from the main narrative, resulting in a slight loss of momentum. Nevertheless, Robertson's beautiful prose and attention to detail mostly compensate for these minor shortcomings. Overall, "Stephen Grattan's Faith: A Canadian Story" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that skillfully blends history, spirituality, and personal journeys. Margaret M. Robertson showcases her talent for storytelling and creates a compelling narrative that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. This book is a must-read for those seeking a profound exploration of faith, love, and the pursuit of one's dreams within the backdrop of Canadian history. First Page: Stephen Grattan's Faith, A Canadian Story, by Margaret M Robertson. This book was transcribed with acknowledgements to Early Canadiana Online from their website. The scans available there were of good quality, and the transcription went easily and well. The book warns against the effects of the Demon Drink, at least at that time, for it appears that wages were low but that alcohol was expensive, so that a drunkard father could easily ruin the life of his wife and children, and perhaps cause serious, even fatal, accidents, due to violence or causing fires from a carelessly placed candle. There are three families involved in this short book. The Morelys, where the father is a drunkard who runs out of job and money just as a very severe winter is coming on; the Grattans, where the father had previously been a drunkard, and all of whose children had perished in a house fire which he probably had caused; the Muirs, where the old mother had been married to a dreadful old drunkard, but whose son had never drunk, and so proved, through Stephen Grattan's recommendation, to be Morely's saviour. It is a very short book, but the story is very well told, and quite adequately so. You arrive at the end of the book with a very clear idea of what the author intended to convey... Continue reading book >>

Stephen Grattan's Faith A Canadian Story By: Margaret M. (Margaret Murray) Robertson (1821-1897)

In "Stephen Grattan's Faith: A Canadian Story", Margaret M. Robertson masterfully weaves a captivating tale set in the heart of 19th century Canada. Through her rich storytelling and intricate character development, the author manages to transport readers not only to a bygone era but also deep into the complexities of human emotions and the power of unwavering faith.

The story follows the life of Stephen Grattan, a young man who finds himself torn between his duty to his family and his own aspirations. Robertson skillfully delves into Stephen's internal struggles, taking readers on an emotional journey as he grapples with the desire to honor his family's expectations while following his own dreams.

Furthermore, Robertson seamlessly integrates historical events and societal issues of the time, creating a vivid and realistic backdrop against which the characters' lives unfold. Whether it is the political unrest in Canada or the social pressures faced by women, the author effortlessly incorporates these elements into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

One of the strengths of this novel lies in the author's ability to breathe life into her characters. From Stephen's strong-willed mother to his loyal best friend, each individual is carefully crafted with their own unique set of motivations and personality traits. This attention to detail allows readers to form strong connections with the characters, evoking empathy and understanding for their choices and struggles.

Another commendable aspect of Robertson's writing is her exploration of faith and spirituality. By elegantly intertwining religion into the storyline, she invites readers to contemplate larger questions about their own beliefs and the role faith plays in shaping one's identity. Through Stephen's unwavering faith, the author emphasizes the power of finding solace and purpose in the divine.

However, there are moments within the book when the pacing feels slow, and the story could benefit from a tighter focus on the central plot. Occasionally, the numerous subplots detract from the main narrative, resulting in a slight loss of momentum. Nevertheless, Robertson's beautiful prose and attention to detail mostly compensate for these minor shortcomings.

Overall, "Stephen Grattan's Faith: A Canadian Story" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that skillfully blends history, spirituality, and personal journeys. Margaret M. Robertson showcases her talent for storytelling and creates a compelling narrative that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. This book is a must-read for those seeking a profound exploration of faith, love, and the pursuit of one's dreams within the backdrop of Canadian history.

First Page:

Stephen Grattan's Faith, A Canadian Story, by Margaret M Robertson.

This book was transcribed with acknowledgements to Early Canadiana Online from their website. The scans available there were of good quality, and the transcription went easily and well.

The book warns against the effects of the Demon Drink, at least at that time, for it appears that wages were low but that alcohol was expensive, so that a drunkard father could easily ruin the life of his wife and children, and perhaps cause serious, even fatal, accidents, due to violence or causing fires from a carelessly placed candle.

There are three families involved in this short book. The Morelys, where the father is a drunkard who runs out of job and money just as a very severe winter is coming on; the Grattans, where the father had previously been a drunkard, and all of whose children had perished in a house fire which he probably had caused; the Muirs, where the old mother had been married to a dreadful old drunkard, but whose son had never drunk, and so proved, through Stephen Grattan's recommendation, to be Morely's saviour.

It is a very short book, but the story is very well told, and quite adequately so. You arrive at the end of the book with a very clear idea of what the author intended to convey... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Fiction
Teen/Young adult

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Wikipedia – Margaret M. (Margaret Murray) Robertson
Wikipedia – Stephen Grattan's Faith A Canadian Story

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