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

Mary Draper Ingles - a true American Heroine

A difficult read and yet an important presentation of historical realities of a day and time many have romanticized ...

The careful research and attempts to understand and represent the spirit of such a remarkable woman, her Shawnee captors, and the husband unable to.protect her from such a harrowing ordeal are to be appreciated. For those of us whose lives descend from early American pioneer stock there is much to be learned. Are we sufficiently tough to meet the challenges of our day? What is the depth of our commitment to marriage vows? How do we carry on after passing through personal wilderness times? Survivor or victim?

The book is long and detailed in harrowing ways perhaps making it difficult to stick with. This, however gives greater insight into what a 6 week, 500+ mile hike through rugged terrain with little to no protection from the elements or beasts while starving to the very brink of death would in fact be like.

Mary Draper Ingles - a true American heroine

Gripping and Harrowing to Conclusion!

A story of Tremendous Character Strength. The narration was extraordinarily well done, a thrill to listen to!

My favorite book

This is my favorite book. And I'm not sure exactly why. probably too many reasons to list. I love being reminded that I can do hard things. I also really enjoy the performance of this audio book. I've read this book a few times and now listened to this audio book 2 or 3 times. I read it probably once a year.

Better read

I’ve read this book twice and now have listened to it on audio. Why would they have a male narrate an entire book that was female?? This book is outstanding however I enjoyed it much more when I was reading it in book form.

Loved it

Growing up and living in western West Virginia on the Ohio river and spending many days on the Ohio and New river this book was fascinating. Knowing exactly where she was and the spot on descriptions made this very enjoyable.

Excellent

Fascinating story. Well read, well written and researched. A truly remarkable tale. Easy to feel this journey alongside Mary

Wonderful Read

I couldn’t stop listening…The reader was excellent. The authors notes made the story so real!

Unbelievable!

I am amazed that in the 1700's a young girl and an old woman could actually cross the wild frontier that none other but the Native Americans had done before them. The story of Mary Ingles is riveting. She is strong, kind, and focused. Her relationship with Gretta is at times wonderful and at others quite intense. I like to read period books, and while this one was written in the 1980s, it was taken from a real person from the colonial times. I am sure that it is not all factual, but still an amazing story. Read it, you won't be sorry.

We never know what the human spirit can endure!

Mary Ingles and her two sons are kidnapped by indians and taken 1000 miles away into rugged and unchartered territory. Along the way she endures giving birth in a trail, starvation, brutality and finally making a choice that no mother wishes to make.. ( I wont spoil it)

She leaves the indian tribe and treks 1000miles back to her husband Will. The story is about human endurane - nothing spared, all her hardship narrated and her tenacity to reach home and her husband.

A realistic, well researched book that is gripping and made me take sharp intakes of breath as she trekked across 1000 miles of unchartered territory.

Its about faith, love, forgiveness and how we can survive - no matter what.

Inspiring story

I found myelf drawn into this story from the start with my interest held right down to the end of the epilogue. Mary Ingles was an amazing woman. Her courage and determination despite the formidable challenges were a constant inspiration. Fascinating insights into the history of USA early pioneers especially in relation to American Indian population.

Quality narration. well written. Well worth the credit :)