Barclay of the Mounted Review

 JUST RELEASED!  And here we have the rarest of books, Mon Ami: a brand new thrilling adventure of Canada’s famous North-West Mounted Police!  BARCLAY OF THE MOUNTED.

The Northwestern

When Jack London created the Northwestern Genre with the release of THE CALL OF THE WILD in 1903, he knew he had given the world something new.  But even Jack didn’t know he had created a Genre — both factual and fabled — that would dominate bookshelves, magazine racks and movie theatres for the next fifty years.

Hollywood movie posters and New York pulp magazine covers promised us “Awe-inspiring drama of the great Northwest where men die for the women they love!”  “No uniform more feared in action, no men more loved in peace…than Canada’s Heroic Mounties!”  “Gene and Champion help stamp out Rebellion in Canada’s violence ridden backwoods!”  “Action and Thrills along the Trail of the Mounties.”  “A band of Northland outlaws learn the price of greed.”  “Northern Bush – tough country to track river pirates in!”  “The Law Ends – Where the North Begins!”

In the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties, when Northwesterns thrived, a number of authors made a rich living on the Genre that Jack built: Ralph Connor, James Oliver Curwood, James B Hendryx, William Byron Mowery, A De Herries Smith and Samuel Alexander White.  Most of ’em wrote about the Canadian Mounties — all of them about the vast Northern wilderness.

The last hurrah for the Northwestern was in the Fifties, in the characters of Sergeant Preston and his wonder dog Yukon King — in comic books, radio and TV.  “On you huskies!”

And then the Northwesterns were gone.

Well, not completely.  Some writers have appeared with new characters.  And their rousing deeds in the wild mythic Northcountry.

Like the brand new (as of this writing) BARCLAY OF THE MOUNTED: From the Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry Barclay VC DSO MC (Retired).  Written by Stephen Gaspar.

About Stephen Gaspar.

Stephen Gaspar and his wife Susan live in Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River from Motown.  He has two grown sons and two grandsons.

A retired teacher, Stephen now writes Historical Mysteries.

His published Mysteries include THE CASE OF THE EMPTY TOMB: Tribune Claudius Maximus, THE MEDIEVAL ADVENTURES OF THOMAS AQUINAS, GIVE ME THE DAGGERS: A Macbeth Murder Mystery, and THE TEMPLAR AND THE TRUE CROSS.

He has written some Holmes and Watson Detective stories including THE CANADIAN ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (the seventh story, “Murder on the CPR,” introduces the celebrated Henry Barclay, subject of this book review) and COLD-HEARTED MURDER: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, also including an appearance by Barclay.

BARCLAY OF THE MOUNTED

Henry Barclay is a brave, honourable and handsome man meant for great deeds — just ask him.  Full of himself, for sure, but a man of valour for all that.  In his career he will stand up to dangerous whisky peddlers, out-and-out outlaws, proud First Nations leaders (he will meet Chief Poundmaker, who calls him “Bear-Claw,” twice) and stand his ground in the Mounted Police boxing ring for the Force’s Championship).

As a member of the newly-formed North-West Mounted Police, Henry Barclay arrived in the chaotic Canadian West in 1874.

In one of his first confrontations, he stops four whiskey traders.  One of them shoots Barclay in the chest.  Barclay, acting as if nothing happened, arrests the shooter and heads for Fort Walsh for trial.  Both the arrested man and the Mountie’s guide, Messier, “eyed me strangely but said nothing.”

And so Henry Barclay begins his distinguished career.  He will serve alongside Mounties such as Sam Steele.  James Walsh.  James Macleod.  And meet any number of rascals and murderers.

It’s an episodic novel, taking place over 25 years.  It’s an intelligent yarn, knowledgeable of our national history and told with gentle humour.

The scene where Barclay wakes up one quiet morning, stretches, yawns, and steps out of a tent is a kind of memorable movie moment: the lone Mountie will soon be meeting Sitting Bull and thousands of Sioux.  It’s just after the Battle of Little Big Horn.

And then there’s the Mystery of the Missing Prime Minister.  How could Sir John A MacDonald disappear off a speeding steam train?  Especially when Barclay and Lady MacDonald were outside, riding on the cowcatcher.  (But the author plays fair and gives good clues.  Which this reader missed.)

Fittingly, BARCLAY OF THE MOUNTED ends in the Klondike Gold Rush.  It was here that the worldwide news coverage made our North-West Mounted, with their summer gear of red serge jackets and military-style broad-brimmed Stetsons or winter furs and dog sleds, famous.  Becoming the Mythic Mounties.

There are strange things done in the midnight sun.  Barclay and his faithful sled dog Byron go into the Yukon wilderness to bring in Sawtooth Mike Crook, a “mad prospector,” known to most as a gentle giant.  Who proves to be anything but a gentle man.  And Arctic trails have their secret tales…

It’s a personal thing of course, but I’ve always liked the immediacy of First Person.  It works especially for humourous fiction and mysteries.  And works for this first volume of Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry Barclay VC DSO MC.  Retired.

If you love Mountie Fiction, as I do, as well as Historical Detective Mysteries, check out this one!

To see all of Stephen’s Historical Mysteries, go to Amazon’s Stephen Gaspar Page.

 

Sam Steele & Barclay

 Samuel Benfield Steele (1848-1919) mountie, soldier, Canadian hero,
and legend. Remembered as The Lion of the North, his life is closely linked with Canada and Canadian history. Sam Steele is featured in my latest book, Barclay of the Mounted.

Sam Steele was born in Purbrook, Ontario. He joined the militia during the Fenian Raids in 1866, participated in the Red River Expedition of 1870, and in 1873, was made an officer in the newly created North-West Mounted Police. Steele was responsible for the policing of the construction of the CPR, and is credited with establishing authority in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush.

All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!

Barclay & The Gold Rush

 The Klondike Gold Rush (1896-1899) was an unprecedented event in Canadian history. People from around the world literally stampeded to the Yukon Territory to stake their claim in the gold fields. When 100,000 would-be prospectors invaded an unhospitable wilderness strange and bizarre events would inevitably follow.

In his memoirs, Henry Barclay of the North-West Mounted Police relates when he was stationed in Dawson City during the gold rush.

When the bank in Dawson is robbed, Barclay assumes he will be put on the case, but his superior gives Barclay the job of bringing in a mad miner who seems to be suffering from cabin fever.

The Klondike Gold Rush is a fascinating event, so fascinating in fact that it also played a big part in my Sherlock Holmes book, Cold-Hearted Murder.   

Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!

Barcaly & Sir John A. Macdonald

 My latest book, Barclay of the Mounted, tells the story of a young man’s western adventures with the newly-formed North-West Mounted Police. The chapter, The Missing Prime Minister, recounts the historic journey of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald’s first cross-country trip on the newly built transcontinental railway. 

The journey took place in the summer of 1886. The train left Ottawa on 13 June. There were many stops along the way and Sir John would greet his constituents from the platform of his car, The Jamaica.

Outside of Calgary, Sir John met with the chiefs of the Western tribes. 

At Laggan, Alberta, Lady Agnes Macdonald decided to get a better view of the landscape by riding on the cowcatcher of the engine.

On 27 July, the train pulled into Port Moody, BC, the most western terminus of the CPR.

Finally, on 30 August, the Macdonalds arrived back home in Ottawa.

All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!

John A. Macdonald's Trip Through the Rockies by the Newly Completed CPR, July 1886
Charles William Jefferys
Glenbow Museum, Calgary

Poundmaker & Barclay

My latest book, Barclay of the Mounted, is a young man's memoir of his life in the North-West Mounted Police in the latter half of the 19th century.

One of the real-life characters Barclay encounters is Plains Cree chief Pihtokahanapiwiyin also known as Poundmaker (1842-1886).

Poundmaker was described as "tall and good looking, slightly built with an intelligent face, in which a large Roman nose was prominent; his bearing was so eminently dignified and his speech so well adapted to the occasion, as to impress every hearer with the earnestness of his views."

Poundmaker was arrested and imprisoned for participating in the 1885 Rebellion. He was tried and sentenced to prison. In poor health he was released after one year, Four months laterPoundmaker died of  a lung hemorrhage.

Barclay of the Mounted can be found on Amazon!

Barclay & Boxing

 My latest release is the historical detective book, Barclay of the Mounted. 

In the chapter entitled 'Battling' Barclay, we see Henry Barclay competing for the title of the boxing champ of the North-West Mounted Police. 

We also see real-life boxing champ George 'Little Chocolate' Dixon of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dixon, a Featherweight and Bantamweight, stood  5ft 3 1/2 inches (1613cm) and began his career weighing about 87 lbs (39 kg). 

George Dixon won the Bantamweight title in 1888, and in 1890 he was officially considered the champion after knocking out Nunc Wallace of England.

Dixon is credited by some for developing shadow boxing, was named a National Historic Person by the Government of Canada, became the first-ever black athlete to win a championship in any sport, and was the first Canadian-born boxing champ.

Barclay of the Mounted can be found on Amazon!

Pulp Boxing Stories

 One cannot talk about pulp magazines without mentioning the subject of boxing. During the 20s and 30s young and old could be thrilled with tales of the ring in such publications as Fight Stories, Argosy, and The Ring. 

Those who followed the sport knew the names Dempsey, Tunney, and Schmeling, so naturally, there was a market for these stories. 

In Barclay of the Mounted, there is a chapter where Barclay is competing for the 1888 boxing title in the North-West Mounted Police. Here is the opening paragraph of 'Battling' Barclay.

MALONEY’S RIGHT UPPERCUT caught me squarely under the chin and sent me back on my heels. The roar of the crowd—half cheering the other half awestruck—sounded muffled to my ears as if from far away across the prairie. I recovered quickly, shaking my head to clear it. Through bleary eyes, I looked across at my opponent. Maloney grimaced. He obviously thought that last blow should have had me down and out, but it did not. He waded in slowly and carefully. He was a brawler, with little scientific skill in the art of boxing, but that made him no less dangerous in the ring. I jabbed at him with my left to keep him at bay. It had no effect, and Maloney moved in. I read the bloodlust in his eyes. He swung his huge right fist in a deadly sweeping arc at my head. I ducked just beneath it and delivered two strong blows to his side. It felt like hitting ribbed stone. He bellowed in rage and brought his left around. It whistled past my ear. If that blow had landed, it would have been the end of the match. Maloney now had me in the corner and there was nowhere to go. He began to deliver punches, most of which I avoided, but I knew I could not avoid them much longer.

Barclay of the Mounted can be found on Amazon!