Growing up with a love for historical fiction, I was captivated by Rodger Carlyle’s Robber Barons, the third frontier epic in the Gritt Family series. Set in the rugged landscape of 1865, the novel is a superbly written, historically accurate thriller that captures the volatile era following the U.S. acquisition of Alaska. As the federal government seeks a return on its $7 million investment, the territory becomes a playground for "robber barons" - ruthless industrialists from across the country who descend upon the frontier to strip it of its timber, minerals, and fish. The story follows Chad Gritt, a courageous, resilient trader whose family established themselves during the Russian era, as he refuses to bow to the intimidation of corporate oligarchs who view the land and its Native communities as mere obstacles to profit.
Chad - and his brother Travis Gritt – is joined in the fledgling Alaskan Territory by two standout protagonists: Danielle Post, a "newly minted" attorney fleeing the restrictive "good old boy" networks of the East, and Belle Medev, an educated Alaska Native teacher. Danielle and Belle’s ability to organize local resistance and navigate the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. to protect the interests of the native people of Alaska, provides a refreshing and empowering pivot to the traditional frontier narrative. Their intellectual grit proves just as vital as the Gritt brothers' physical resilience in the face of corporate greed.
Carlyle’s writing is characterized by meticulous research and a narrative that entrances the reader with the sights, smells, and biting cold of Sitka, Juneau, and the dangerous seas surrounding them. By weaving real Alaskan history into a fast-paced plot of corruption and vengeance, Carlyle delivers a story that feels both timely and timeless, exploring the enduring struggle between those who seek to build a community and those who only wish to exploit it. If you love historical epics, this is a book that you will thoroughly enjoy.
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