Guns Of Burgoyne

"Guns of Burgoyne" is a very enjoyable historical novel about the events leading up to and including the battle of Saratoga during the American Revolutionary War. The book portrays how common people from the Hesse-Hanau region of Germany were drafted into military service, and sent off to fight with the British in far-off America, while their "Elector" was paid for their services by the British government. It describes the harsh life the Hessian soldiers had to endure, contrasted against the privileged life of many of their officers. The story is told through the eyes of a young German Lieutenant, Kurt Ahrens, and through Gustav Rentner, an enlisted man "drafted" against his will into the Hessian army. It covers General Burgoyne's advance down Lake Champlain from Canada as he proceeded toward Saratoga and his ultimate defeat. It describes many of the same events that are covered in another of my favorite novels: "Rabble In Arms", by Kenneth Roberts. While that novel describes these events from the point of view of the American Colonists, "Guns of Burgoyne" describes those same historical events from the point of view of the Hessian soldiers accompanying the British. "Guns of Burgoyne" provides an excellent depiction of the Battle of Bennington, as well as the Battle of Saratoga. If you like highly accurate history, wrapped in an enjoyable story told by well developed characters, you must read "Guns of Burgoyne". Its unique perspective, told from the point of view of the Hessian soldiers accompanying the British, provides insight that would be difficult to find elsewhere.