War Paint

MWSA Review

Author W. R. Benton has hit a home run with his book, War Paint. Set in the early 1800's, Benton tells an interesting tale about a young, rich New Englander who sets his sights on a different life and heads west. From the beginning of his trip, Alwood faces one fascinating event after another. When he decides to take up the life of a mountain man, he has no idea what he's stepping into. It seemed like every turn of the page was taking you through another adventure.  Fighting bears, indians, and rotten-to-the-core white men became as deadly as the winter weather in the mountains.  In the process, he met a lot of good people, too, both Indians and white men.  He even found love. If you're looking for an enjoyable read, I highly recommend War Paint by W.R. Benton.

Reviewed by: Bob Doerr (2015)

Author's Summary

Information provided by the author. Go West Young Man... George Alwood III, is a spoiled and rich young man who heads west to become a mountain man in 1825. Taken under wing by two experienced old mountain men, George Alwood the third becomes Bear Killer the mountain man.

After a short visit with Shoshoni Indians, Bear Killer finds himself with an unwanted wife and though he resist's, he eventually learns to love her. A cold and hard winter in the mountains brings him closer to his bride, as he learns to live as a mountain man, and just before spring she informs him a child will soon come. Content now, with a canvas shelter, campfire, dried meat, and soon to be family, Bear Killer reflects on his rich and pampered background.

After his wife and unborn child are killed by white men, the young mountain man makes a promise to avenge their deaths and he's swept up into a deep sense of rage. He finds, however, the men he is searching for are hard men to pin down and even harder to kill.