Fire Along the Frontier - by Alastair Sweeny (Paperback)

About the Book

Examining the major battles of the War of 1812, Sweeny goes behind the scenes to explore business activity during the war, particularly between John Jacob Astor, the richest man in America and a financier of the war, and his fur-trading partners in Montreal.

Book Synopsis

A view of the War of 1812 from a social perspective.

This book provides a fresh new view of the battles of the war and goes behind the scenes to explore wartime trading activity, particularly American dealings with Napoleon and cross-border commerce, as well as the activities of John Jacob Astor, America's richest man and war financier, and his fur-trading partners in Montreal.

There was a wealth of military screw-ups. What did the generals do before each battle to lose it, and what could they have done to win? And did the incompetence and mixed loyalties of Military Governor Sir George Prevost, grandson of a financier of the American Revolution and nephew by marriage of Vice President Aaron Burr, nearly lose Canada for the British?

The book also provides glimpses of some of the fascinating behind-the-scenes players, such as legendary but flawed President Thomas Jefferson, and President Madison's wife, Dolley, who could have won the war single-handedly had she been able to get all the generals together in the same drawing room.

Review Quotes

"...an engaging synthesis of leading figures, strategies and battles"

About the Author

Alastair Sweeny is the author of a biography of George-Etienne Cartier, as well as two recent business books, BlackBerry Planet, on RIM's smartphone, and Black Bonanza, on Canada's oilsands. He is also co-author and producer of History of Canada Online. He lives in Ottawa.