The Wings of the Morning

I loved this book and I remember being so disappointed that the series was not completed before the author died. I really got attached to his characters. I did not know that The Fires of Spring was a sequel to Wings of the Morning. Thanks for putting that in your review. That will be the next book I buy!

The first in an unfinished series meant to be a trilogy, The Wings of the Morning is an engaging historical novel based on actual events that took place in Wethersfield, CT, the author's place of birth. Tryon took some liberties with history, moving some events from nearby towns into Pequot Landing, but Wings presents a vivid, reasonably accurate picture of 19th century life in this still beautiful CT River location. While the names have been changed, many of the characters are based upon real people and the dramatic incidents in their lives (the massacre of his family by a failing farmer, for example). Several of the businesses, such as the seed company, still exist and continue to do a thriving trade. Alas, the only water craft inhabiting the Cove today are of the small pleasure variety - no more dashing seagoing captains - but it's a pleasure to read Tryon's version of life in a thriving inland port. You'll want to proceed directly to the sequel, In the Fires of Spring. (Unfortunately, Thomas Tryon died before he could complete the third and last installment. He was an actor (The Cardinal, Texas John Slaughter) before he returned to CT and became a successful novelist.)