Eagle Fur

Robert Newton Peck (1928-2020), a Vermont native, served in the U.S. Army's 88th Infantry Division from 1945 to 1947. He attended Cornell Law School and Rollins College before accepting a career in advertising. In 1974, he left advertising to concentrate on writing. His first novel, the young adult work A Day No Pigs Would Die (1972), earned  $300K during its first four months of publication. It was placed on numerous literary award lists and garnered attention from Twentieth Century Fox, although an adaptation never came to fruition. 

My only experience with Peck is his 1977 historical adventure, Eagle Fur. The book was originally published by Alfred A. Kopf, and later released as an Avon paperback in 1979. 

The story is set in 1754 as fur traders, rough French Canadians, and British Guardsmen trek through rugged upstate New York. The protagonist is a young British boy named Abbott Coe. His journey to the New World is a costly one. To pay for his voyage, Abbott agrees to indentured servitude for five years, a bond enforced by an iron collar. His master is Skinner Benet, a harsh French trapper employed by Hudson Bay, the dominant fur trading company. 

The short adventure novel is a character study, a brutal coming-of-age tale detailing Abbott's experience. Benet is a cruel, alcoholic, wild man of the wilderness who can't educate Abbott peacefully. There's a savage dynamic between master and servant, a violent partnership that is skewed by British Ensign Owen McKee, who takes a liking to Abbott and wants to free him from his bond. McKee and Benet spar verbally, and then eventually come to blows. This build-up propels Peck's narrative into a walloping action scene as McKee, fencing with a sword, battles Benet and his axe. The scene is foreshadowed perfectly with several engaging chess matches between the two.

The book's title comes from the trio's journey into the Lake Ticonderoga region, a place where Benet trades for “eagle fur” - the furs found where only the eagle flies. The trip pits the men against Native Americans in violent clashes and extraordinary survival scenarios. There's also a love interest as Abbott dreams of a relationship with Benet's female servant, a Native American woman named Doe.

There's plenty to like about this outdoor adventure tale, including Abbott's determination to become a free man. Benet's abuse, stemming from his own childhood, is evolutionary. Respect and resilience are the keys to the relationship, and eventually, there's a transfer of power through Benet finding a deeper bond with Abbott. The pairing was well-written and created a unique characterization that shifts as the pages turn. I felt as though I witnessed a transformation through human endurance, strength, and mentorship.

 At the end of the day, Eagle Fur makes you feel something, and that's ultimately what a good book should do. For that reason alone, I highly recommend the read.

Get Eagle Fur HERE.