Follow the River

By: James Alexander Thom

Narrated by: David Drummond

Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Mary Ingles was 23, happily married, and pregnant with her third child when Shawnee Indians invaded her peaceful Virginia settlement in 1755 and kidnapped her, leaving behind a bloody massacre. For months they held her captive. But nothing could imprison her spirit.

With the rushing Ohio River as her guide, Mary Ingles walked one thousand miles through an untamed wilderness no white woman had ever seen. Her story lives on - extraordinary testimony to the indomitable strength of one pioneer woman who risked her life to return to her own people.

©1981 James A. Thom (P)2010 Tantor

Story of Unbelievable Stamina and Determination

This novel comes from the true story of Mary Ingles, a young wife and mother in Virginia who was captured by the Shawnee Indians in 1755 and kept prisoner, along with her two young sons, and her sister-in-law. After killing many in her small settlement and burning them out, the Indians captured them and took them along the treacherous trails that would wind around the rivers until they would reach Big Bone Lick in what is now Kentucky. The trip, even on horseback, traveling to the salt lick with the Indians was frightening and dangerous, and Mary, who gave birth to a baby girl along the way, feared she would die. I was absolutely fascinated by this tale . . . having been born in the state of Kentucky and visited Big Bone Lick for myself . . . and having driven many times along the Ohio River which borders between Kentucky and Indiana, and Kentucky and Ohio . . . It is a giant, wide river that feeds into the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois. And equally amazing to me, as I have a son who lives in Virginia, and I frequently DRIVE the long drive over the mountains (so beautiful beneath the rising sunlight . . . I agree with Mary Ingles), is that any person, much less a woman could muster up the courage to drudge through that terrain to get home. The narration of this book is perfect, the thoughtfulness of the author in determining exactly what these two woman must have encountered during their horrendous journey is spot on , and the way in which he portrays their wide array of emotions is to be applauded. I cannot recommend it enough.

This.is.storytelling.

Far too many writers tell, not show. Thom shows you exactly what Mary's seeing. You feel her physical pains and mental anguish, you think you can reach out and touch her to give her a hug Thom puts you in the scene so well. Of course it helps to have interesting material as well! If you like this book, you'll love Lucia St. Clair Robson's Ride the Wind. It's also historical fiction... about another strong brave woman, Cynthia Ann Parker. Loved the narrator for this version also! I fear I won't be able to find another audiobook to measure up!

Best book EVER!

I can listen to this book once a year. Just an AMAZING story. And it’s based on TRUE events. This woman is a true inspiration.

Great Book

Great True Story! well written & narrated. If you're considering this book then go ahead and get it, you wont be sorry. Cant review it highly enough. males me wish Audible had more J.A.T. books to listen to.

Overwhelmed and grateful; wonderful story!

This story is a gift of wonder; each evenings reading dug deeper. That she was young, married with child, experiencing the loss of some of her family during an Indian massacre; kidnapped and made to travel while walking, riding and crossing waters in a canoe ... and I tell you it is only the beginning of a tale so wonderfully presented, so crude a life she led, yet I so admire this pioneer lady we often hear about, so seldom get to know as well as we do with each reading. Thanks to the reader who did a great job, the author, and the amazing lady who chose to live and follow the river to her home. I am exhausted and grateful.

Awesome

Thom did an awesome job with telling the story of Mary Ingles. We listened to the story as we traveled from Northern KY to Blacksburg Virginia. We are amazing she took the same journey by foot. What an great story of perseverance and Faith!

SPELLBINDING!

Seems very unlikely that this story could have happened as written, however it certainly is a testimony to human endurance and determination. The story captured our attention from beginning to the very end – and I wouldn't mind listening to it again as we listened in broken segments over several weeks. The narrator was very easy to understand.

Greatest

This was an amazing book.It was hard to stop the story until the next read

This is a wonderful capture of the time and history. The author did a fantastic job in his capture the events of that era

Long, but gripping

Any additional comments?

Amazing story, especially when we learned it is based on a true story. This is a must read! A bit gruesome but something we all need to understand.

Inspiring

This is an inspiring story, even if it is necessarily somewhat fictionalized. My only complaint is that a male reader was chosen. David Drummond did a good job, but as most of the dialog was between women, a female narrator would've been a better choice.