Frank in the Mountains

"Frank in the Mountains" by Harry Castlemon is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows young Frank and his cousin Archie as they navigate adventures in the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains, encountering both friendly and hostile Native Americans along the way. The novel explores themes of bravery, survival, and the complexities of human relationships in the face of danger. At the start of the narrative, Frank and Archie are introduced as they arrive at a trading post in the Rocky Mountains and settle into a new life filled with exploration and excitement. The boys are drawn into a foot race against local Indigenous boys, leading to a series of events that escalate into challenges for Frank as he finds himself facing rivalry and potential danger. The opening establishes their adventurous spirit and hints at the conflicts that will develop as they interact with Native tribes, setting the stage for the thrilling escapades that await them in the unfolding chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Austin Fosdick, better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He was born in Randolph, New York, and received a high school diploma from Central High School in Buffalo, New York. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children's literature.