Cousins Of Color

Rating:
Summary: History Comes to Life
Review:

Cousins of Color, from first to last, is exciting and visual (I can't wait for the movie!). Black troops in the Philippines to help "liberate" it from the Spanish must fight not only the enemy, but also suffer prejudice from many white soldiers. David Fagen becomes an outcast, forced to desert, unwelcome where he is and unable to return home. The story of how he survives and triumphs is fast-paced and intriguing. The characters walk off the pages into the mind and heart forever.

William Schroder is a man who can write!

Byron L. Sacre,
Author of Family and Other Strangers



Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Historical Novel
Review: Fascinating Historical Novel, July 30, 2004
Reviewer: S. Esposito (lake havasu, az. United States) - See all my reviews


I must admit I knew very little about the period in time described in Cousins of Color prior to reading the book. Afterward, I felt as if a window to the time period had been opened for me, and I could clearly see the inhabitants going about their lives! The story is fascinating, and I quickly became involved in the tale and the lives of the protagonists. In particular, the dialog seemed unforced and genuine, and the plot flowed seamlessly to the stunning finale. I look forward to more books by this talented author.


Rating:
Summary: Engrossing history and character study
Review: "Cousins of Color" is a fascinating and enlightening view of America's involvement in the Philippines during the turn of the century. President McKinley has sent U.S. military forces to Mania for 'humanitarian' reasons. This is not a book about the men who make important decisions but about the trickle down effect of those decisions on other men. Schroder's story allows the reader to see what doors are opened by the arrogance of those in power. We see the dark side of some men manifest itself and the strength of character in others come through. It's a book about choices and one man choosing to do what is right over what is expedient.

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing history and character study
Review: "Cousins of Color" is a fascinating and enlightening view of America's involvement in the Philippines at the turn of the century. President McKinley has sent US military forces to Manila for 'humanitarian' purposes. This is not a book about the men who make important decisions but about the trickle down effect those decisions have on other men. Schroder's story allows the reader to see what doors are opened by the arrogance of those in power. We see the dark side of some men manifest itself and the strength of character in others come through. It's a book about choices and one man choosing to do what is right over what is expedient.

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing history and character study
Review: "Cousins of Color" is a fascinating and enlightening view of America's involvement in the Philippines during the turn of the century. President McKinley has sent U.S. military forces to Mania for 'humanitarian' reasons. This is not a book about the men who make important decisions but about the trickle down effect of those decisions on other men. Schroder's story allows the reader to see what doors are opened by the arrogance of those in power. We see the dark side of some men manifest itself and the strength of character in others come through. It's a book about choices and one man choosing to do what is right over what is expedient.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Historical Novel
Review: I must admit I knew very little about the period in time described in Cousins of Color prior to reading the book. Afterward, I felt as if a window to the time period had been opened for me, and I could clearly see the inhabitants going about their lives! The story is fascinating, and I quickly became involved in the tale and the lives of the protagonists. In particular, the dialog seemed unforced and genuine, and the plot flowed seamlessly to the stunning finale. I look forward to more books by this talented author.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, informative and a great read.
Review: In the tradition of Stone and Vidal this vivid and visceral biographical novel took me on a page turning journey into the depths of David Fagan's soul. William Schroder has painted a truly conflicted story of one man's agonizing and passionate clash between love of country and his personal truth. Set in the Philippines during the Spanish American War, this country's frist encounter with "liberating occupation", I found myself engrossed in this remarkable story and asking the same difficult questions that must be facing many Americans in today challenging times. When Hollywood makes this into a movie, and surly it will, I pray it will be as honest as this work so richly deserves.
Excellent, absolutely excellent.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: In the tradition of Stone and Vidal, this vivid and visceral biographical novel took me on a page turning journey into the depths of David Fagen's soul. William Schroder has painted a truly astonishing story of one man's agonizing and passionate clash between love of country and personal truth. Set in the Philippines during the Spanish American War, this country's frist encounter with "liberating occupation," I found myself engrossed in this remarkable story and asking the same difficult questions that must be facing many Americans in today's challenging times. When Hollywood makes this into a movie, and surely it will, I pray it will be as honest as this work so richly deserves. Excellent, absolutely excellent.

Dean T. Welsh, Los Angeles, California



Rating:
Summary: Cousins of Color
Review: Insight into a little known but fascinating 1899 segment of military history reveals a serious blemish on the United States' and blessedly marks the significant progress we've made in the past century. The novel depicts the courage of Negro David Fagen who renounces his U.S. military obligation in the Phillipines to blaze a trail to right wrongs in our cultural and political history. His romance with a beautiful Phillipine guerilla and his abhorence of the illogical and extremely cruel treatment of Phillipine prisoners and people convince him to join the natives ahd fight for their fredom. The novel will stir the reader's disgust with the self-centered officers who led the U.S. White and Black troups into battles to destroy the very people they were supposedly liberating. The combat scenes, torture and suffering are intense. The author's background and combat experience bring realism to the gruesome history. The novel has the uniqueness and excitement needed to make an historical and memorable feature film.
The front cover of the book has a note suggesting America has a continuing obsession with conquest and racism. Our history since 1899 proves otherwise. Our two World Wars and the present conflict were and is dedicated to bringing freedom and democracy to oppressed peoples and rebuilding, not empire building. As for racism, our country has made strides, but our progress is anything but acceptable. We can do better.
Cousins of Color is a must read for every American.
Jim Adams. Author of Escape to Montana

Rating:
Summary: Cousins of Color conveys history.
Review: Recommended Reading List

Can a historical novel provide readers with accurate information about our past? It can if the book is based on primary and secondary source information that has been thoroughly researched and evaluated. History that has been relegated to footnotes (or completely ignored) can be brought to the forefront with a carefully written historical novel. Compare the two excerpts below and determine for yourself the validity of the statement.

The Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation