The Red River Half-Breed by Gustave Aimard

This novel tells the story of a young half-breed who seeks revenge against the white men responsible for his family's death and the destruction of their home. The protagonist navigates the complexities of racial tension, loyalty, and identity in the American West during the mid-19th century. Through his journey, the reader is presented with themes of justice, morality, and the blurred lines between good and evil. The narrative explores the consequences of violence and the cyclical nature of revenge, ultimately leading to a tragic confrontation that reshapes the protagonist's understanding of himself and his place in society.

By Gustave Aimard · First published 1866 · Genre: Adventure, Western, Historical Fiction · 31 chapters · 89,592 words

First lines

We stand on the loftiest peak of the Big Wind River Mountains, that highest and longest chain of the Northern Rockies, a chaos of granite fifteen thousand feet towards the firmament from the sea.

Around us the lesser pinnacles hold up heads as fantastic in shape as an Indian's plumed for battle, and, below a little, diamonds of ice deck the snowy ermine of the colossal giant's robe.

• Open reader

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Genres

• Adventure — The narrative is driven by action-packed sequences and exploration.
• Western — The setting and cultural elements are characteristic of the Western genre.
• Historical Fiction — The story incorporates historical elements and settings.
• Romance — There are romantic subplots interwoven with the main narrative.

Tags

Historical Fiction · Western Novel · Frontier Life · Native American Relations · Canadian History · French-Canadian Culture · Half-Breed Identity · Racial Tensions · Social Commentary · Adventure Story · Action-Packed Plot · Romantic Interest

What this Textopian page supports

The Red River Half-Breed is listed on Textopian as a novel by Gustave Aimard, dated 1866 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Gustave Aimard
• Date: 1866 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Adventure, Western, Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama
• Length: 89,592 words
• Structure: 31 chapters, 1,747 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Red River Half-Breed by Gustave Aimard
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Contents

• The Crest of the Continent
• The False Pilot
• The Mountaineers' Snug Cabin
• The Man who Ran Right into Trouble
• The Lone Man's Story
• In Hostile Hands
• Cherokee Bill Recruiting
• The Gold Grabbers
• The Red River Half-Breeds
• The Storm King
• The Irresistible Bait
• Under the Mask
• The Beautiful Prisoner's Friend
• The Compact
• An Ingenious Introduction
• The Thorn of Roses
• How "French Paul" Got Hurt
• Rosario Begins to Hope
• The Nest of Traitors
• The Underminer
• The Best Way to Learn is to Look and Listen
• The Late Visitor to the Ladies
• A Forest Letter
• The Yager's "Treaty Talk" with our Hero
• We Hear from Cherokee Bill
• The all-Powerful Emblem
• The Mountain Man is Reinforced
• Drawing to a Head
• On the Eve of the Attack
• The Half-Breed Dies Game
• The Women's Camp

More by Gustave Aimard

• Los Merodeadores de Fronteras (1861)
• Las noches mejicanas (1864)
• The Frontiersmen (1867)
• The Border Rifles (1867)
• The Freebooters (1867)
• The White Scalper (1847)
• The Pirates of the Prairies (1844)
• The Trapper's Daughter (1847)
• All works by Gustave Aimard