The Coachman
Roger A Smith
Fiction
Rian Krieger's Journey - Book 2 Philadelphia, 1837. On six occasions, twelve-year-old tomboy Rian Krieger has escorted self-emancipated fugitives to the next station on their flight from enslavement. When Rian’s father,...
Out of stock
9798888191392
Rian Krieger's Journey - Book 2
Philadelphia, 1837. On six occasions, twelve-year-old tomboy Rian Krieger has escorted self-emancipated fugitives to the next station on their flight from enslavement. When Rian’s father, factory owner Otto Krieger, learns that she is a conductor on the Underground Railroad, he renews his plans to send her to a finishing school in Switzerland. This is a fate Rian cannot abide, as it means she would have to wear a dress all the time.
The Workshop of the World. Philadelphia bustles with commerce. The siren song of increased prosperity prompts Otto to make bold decisions. Then, the Panic of 1837 descends, strangling businesses and straining the social and economic fabric of the city. Otto’s factory and home are at risk of foreclosure.
Otto’s problems are potentially resolved when two visitors from Tsarist Russia enter his factory. Rian must decide: Can the Russians’ mission help her solve her Switzerland dilemma as well?
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:
As authentic as they come with an eye on the past and future of historical fiction. You’re immediately and irrevocably thrust into pre-war Philadelphia. Switching back and forth between perspectives, in the tradition of Faulkner, you’ll find yourself grasping for the next page to find out what might befall our characters. Impressively, Smith continues to teach an old genre new tricks.—Matthew Di Paoli, author of Holliday, winner of the Wilbur and Niso Smith Adventure Writing Prize.
Roger A. Smith’s The Coachman is historical fiction at its finest. In Book Two of the monumental nine book series, protagonist Rian Krieger continues her thoughtful, thrilling, and consequential journey. With an informative Author’s Notes, this is the perfect series for history buffs, plot aficionados, and character-driven literature fans alike.—Kate Dike Blair - author of the historical novel, The Hawthorne Inheritance
Roger A. Smith writes with authority and exquisite attention to detail, vividly capturing not only the social and political conflict of the era but also the warring desires and goals of his characters in this well-wrought historical novel.—Ginny Fite, award-winning author of The Physics of Things
Historical fiction requires not only a rich imagination, it must come from a firm foundation of understanding the past. I was impressed by the well-rounded characters, moving plot and vivid descriptions of early Nineteenth Century life in Philadelphia. While I will avoid giving away any details, I would put this book on a par with some of Horatio Alger’s novels of mid-nineteenth century New York. Another series that came to mind as I worked my way through The Coachman is Jack Finney’s time travel novels.—Mark Carlson, CL, ACS - Historical Novels Society - Military Writers Society of America
In Roger A. Smith's captivating novel The Coachman, echoes of the tumultuous landscape of the 1830s reverberate across a panoply of characters. As the Underground Railroad whispers tales of courage and survival, the Krieger family’s industrial empire faces challenges that threaten its foundations. Amid personal struggles and societal upheaval, young Rian Krieger defies convention to navigate a world of gender expectations, embarking on an astonishing journey to Russia.—Maryka Biaggio, award-winning author of Parlor Games, Eden Waits, The Point of Vanishing, and The Model Spy.
With a colorful cast of characters, Roger Smith creates an exciting adventure story in the vibrant and growing Philadelphia of 1837, a center of industry and a crossroads in the fight for emancipation. Jules, a free Black man, struggles to maintain his new business and his freedom, Seamus, a young Irish American man, fights for a place at the table, and Rian, a bright young woman, seeks to move beyond the prescribed role for women to make her own life.—Nancy Kilgore, author of Bitter Magic, Wild Mountain, and Sea Level
by Roger A Smith
Page Count: 340
Trim Size: 6 X 9
Publish Date: October 31, 2023
Imprint: Milford House Press
Genre: Historical
FICTION / Historical / General
FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Transgender
FICTION / African American & Black / Historical
You might also like ...
-
$39.95-- or Once Upon a Time in the East -- MEET ME I...-- or Once Upon a Time in the East -- MEET ME IN MANHATTAN revives the legend of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and Miss Etta Place, as in the early years of the 20th Century they flee the fast-f...
-
$22.95Sometimes losing your children is the only way ...Sometimes losing your children is the only way to save them. The year is 2039. Jean Bennett’s husband and sister have died from a mysterious illness. To save her children’s lives, she must leave t...
-
$16.95It was the time of rifle, tomahawk, and knife. ...It was the time of rifle, tomahawk, and knife. It was the time of plough, axe, and endurance. It was the time when blood flowed into the waters of the Susquehanna River—1750 to 1800—Colonial Susqu...
-
$19.95Henry Shoemaker compiled these legendary tales ...Henry Shoemaker compiled these legendary tales set in the Juniata Valley of central Pennsylvania. Shoemaker's tales recall the transition of the landscape from forest to industrial logging and the ...
-
$19.95They say you can never go home again, but what ...They say you can never go home again, but what if home won’t let you leave? When Elbridge Corvallis’ mother dies, the barely minted professional hockey player abandons his first season to return t...
-
$24.95by Stephen Paul Sayers When the ride ends, the ...by Stephen Paul Sayers When the ride ends, the terror begins… The nightmares and visions are getting worse for crime writer Jack Rainne. He can’t shake the childhood memory of a haunting carousel r...
-
$12.95-- Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley -- A fictionalized...-- Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley -- A fictionalized account of Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley’s life story, the most plausible “Molly Pitcher” from the American Revolution, based on the historical record. b...
-
$12.95Unbelievably More Cartoons for the Somewhat Off...Unbelievably More Cartoons for the Somewhat Off-CenterIf you ever wondered what would happen if an author of graphically violent horror stories also drew cartoons? Not that many people would have t...
-
$22.95A Novel of the Battle of Lexington and Concord ...A Novel of the Battle of Lexington and Concord In Colonial Massachusetts at the dawning of the American Revolution, an enslaved African American and a reluctant Patriot must battle the British regu...
-
$24.95The Raven Naelo Saga - Book 1 Raven Naelo, a ha...The Raven Naelo Saga - Book 1 Raven Naelo, a half-elf rogue, dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a realm guardian. Her dreams move closer to reality when she proves herself a...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel lonely? Everyone...What should we do when we feel lonely? Everyone feels lonely sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable characte...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel jealous? Everyon...What should we do when we feel jealous? Everyone feels jealous sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable charac...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel angry? Everyone ...What should we do when we feel angry? Everyone feels angry sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likable characters ...
-
$19.95“We are vessels ... and sometimes we have to em...“We are vessels ... and sometimes we have to empty them.” For years, Jhana has traveled the country in search of the stories of people from all walks of life had to tell. Now, after more than a dec...
-
$19.95The Forbidden Powers - Book 3 Seven years have ...The Forbidden Powers - Book 3 Seven years have passed since the destruction of the Cup of Power and the defeat of Darvor’s armies. Life has gone on for Jonny, but he has not freed himself of the pa...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel frustrated? Eve...What should we do when we feel frustrated? Everyone feels frustrated sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel sad? Everyone fe...What should we do when we feel sad? Everyone feels sad sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable characters fir...
-
$22.95In the railroad city of Altoona, Pennsylvania, ...In the railroad city of Altoona, Pennsylvania, 19-year-old Frank Davis straddles the cusp of manhood in the tumultuous year of 1966. His tranquil lower middle-class neighborhood, adorned with stree...
-
$22.95The Timothy House Chronicles: Book Two Through ...The Timothy House Chronicles: Book Two Through a Dark Valley, Book Two in The Timothy House Chronicles, continues the story of Abbie Richardson and Keith Haliday—two individuals who have suffered i...
-
$16.95From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas M...From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas M. Malafarina comes the eighth short story collection in his Malaformed Realities series, appropriately entitled Malaformed Realities Volume 8. With th...
-
$16.95From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas ...From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas M. Malafarina comes the seventh short story collection in his Malaformed Realities series, appropriately entitled Malaformed Realities Volume 7. With...
-
$9.99What happens when the team goalie gets stuck in...What happens when the team goalie gets stuck in the net during the ice hockey championship game? In the book Stuck! the characters work towards a common goal- helping their goalie get unstuck from ...
-
$22.95- Four women, four stories, and a chance encoun...- Four women, four stories, and a chance encounter that changes everything. Still reeling from a recent breakup, Demi, a Greek-American banquet manager, joins her mother, aunt, and cousin on a trip...
-
$22.95~ The Accountant's Apprentice III ~ “One of the...~ The Accountant's Apprentice III ~ “One of the passengers waiting for a bus . . . said the area . . . was empty. She looked away for a few seconds. When she looked back, he was sitting there in h...
-
$11.95A Story of the West Among the Tribes The Young ...A Story of the West Among the Tribes The Young Frontiersman Book 4 Young Revolutionary War veteran Barnabas Locke makes winter camp in an isolated canyon in the Colorado wilderness, finding pictogr...
-
$11.95A Story of the Great Plains The Young Frontiers...A Story of the Great Plains The Young Frontiersman Book 3 In spring 1782, young Revolutionary War veteran Barnabas Locke and his Abenaki friend, the visionary Squando, reunite to cross the Mississi...
-
$19.95“Lagodzki’s prose is as powerful as his plot is...“Lagodzki’s prose is as powerful as his plot is gripping. A historically astute tale with deep emotional impact. (…) OUR VERDICT: GET IT.” Kirkus Reviews In 1982 Soviet-controlled Poland—a time and...
-
$36.95by John Cressler Much of modern Spain was under...by John Cressler Much of modern Spain was under Muslim control for nearly 800 years (from 711 to 1492 C.E.). Medieval Islamic Spain was deeply influential in world events, for a multitude of reason...
-
$11.95A Story of the Ohio Country The Young Frontiers...A Story of the Ohio Country The Young Frontiersman Book 2 War-seasoned young Barnabas Locke arrives at Harris’s Ferry, where he does business with John Harris II, as a trader of goods going into th...
-
$27.951838 St. Petersburg, Russia’s Window to the Wes...1838 St. Petersburg, Russia’s Window to the West. Thirteen-year-old tomboy Rian Krieger has run away to Russia to help her uncle and cousin build a railroad for Tsar Nicholas I. But there’s a probl...
-
$19.95Prose Edda Book 3 An Earl with godly ambitions....Prose Edda Book 3 An Earl with godly ambitions. A Viking warrior. A scheme, decades in the making. The heart of the Ironwood, a mysterious forest, has been pillaged and replaced with a mine. Hrothg...
-
$22.95On the night of March 17, 1934, in a small town...On the night of March 17, 1934, in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, a man crept to a window and shot a woman through her heart. Her name was Susan Mummey, but she was better known as the Witch o...
-
$11.95A Story of the Revolutionary War The Young Fron...A Story of the Revolutionary War The Young Frontiersman Book 1 It is 1777, early in the Revolutionary War, when fleet young Barnabas Locke runs against an hourglass to become a courier in Captain W...
-
$9.99The Northern Appalachia Review is an annual pub...The Northern Appalachia Review is an annual publication making a place for the under-recognized literature of its region. The editors identify northern Appalachia as the Appalachia counties of Ohio...
-
$16.95The Playwrights Alliance of Pennsylvania, or PA...The Playwrights Alliance of Pennsylvania, or PAPA, for short, was spear-headed by the late Marjorie Bicknell and incorporated on June 20, 2008. Shortly after incorporation, the group began to hold ...
-
$24.95The Plot to Destroy America ~~~ America’s leade...The Plot to Destroy America ~~~ America’s leaders and pundits have long warned that China is the West’s greatest threat to its democratic and economic survival. This is the central theme upon which...
-
$22.95A Connor Stark Novel. Connor Stark, a former ...A Connor Stark Novel. Connor Stark, a former US Navy officer, is head of private maritime security company Highland Maritime Defense and is in the cross-hairs in Claude Berube’s second geopolitic...
-
$22.95A Connor Stark Novel. Connor Stark was a pari...A Connor Stark Novel. Connor Stark was a pariah, a former naval officer whose career came to an unceremonious end after a court-martial resulted in a dishonorable discharge. As head of a private ...
-
$14.95Benjon Quimby, an indentured servant to farmer ...Benjon Quimby, an indentured servant to farmer Jonas Baumheit, heads with his master to a new settlement west of the Susquehanna near the newly built Fort Granville (now Lewistown, Pa.). Soon the p...
-
$22.95Thomas Edison Turns Two Thomas Edison didn’t in...Thomas Edison Turns Two Thomas Edison didn’t invent baseball any more than Abner Doubleday did. But his interest in the game might hold the key to unlocking a surprising secret. The Deadball Era wa...
-
$22.95Cranky, aging newspaper publisher Anne Canfield...Cranky, aging newspaper publisher Anne Canfield is determined to live forever, no matter what. Young, brilliant writer and teacher Indira Anand thinks she wants to die. But the winter morning Anne ...
-
$16.95I scream red . . . for a secret passage to air:...I scream red . . . for a secret passage to air: Willow Grove Mine cries out in a poem in the aftermath of a gaseous explosion that claimed the lives of 72 coal miners, devastating a community in So...
-
$22.95Travels with Jim is the story of two young adul...Travels with Jim is the story of two young adults named Jim and Sorrie who travel across America together, each exploring their place in the world. Jim–the product of a broken home–believes his fat...
-
$22.95Shortly after Ethan Marshall attends the lake-s...Shortly after Ethan Marshall attends the lake-side funeral ceremony for his wife of forty years, he climbs into the car inside his enclosed garage in the suburbs of St. Louis, starts the engine, an...
-
$19.95Josh Goldberg is a young lawyer from a prestigi...Josh Goldberg is a young lawyer from a prestigious Philadelphia law firm. His girlfriend Kiesha is unconscious and in the hospital. She’s eight months pregnant and may be giving birth to their baby...
-
$19.95Have you ever wondered if the tale of Little Re...Have you ever wondered if the tale of Little Red Riding Hood was the real story? Once upon a time ... we all know the classic stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel. N...
-
$22.95by Michael L Hawley The Watchmaker Revelations:...by Michael L Hawley The Watchmaker Revelations: Book 3 The Watchmaker is fully aware the most dangerous type of serial killer is one who keeps to the shadows. Unknown to New Orleans one is systemat...
-
$19.95Confessions of a 440-Year-Old Man Who hated Chr...Confessions of a 440-Year-Old Man Who hated Christy Henshaw enough to shoot her in the throat with an arrow, slash her corpse with hundreds of crisscrossing wounds and deposit her naked body in Roa...
-
$22.95The legend of a survivor of the massacred Peral...The legend of a survivor of the massacred Peralta Mining Expedition (circa 1850) near Superstition Mountain in Arizona (verified by the many bones of horses, mules, and men found within and in rout...
Recently Viewed Products
One of the things I loved about reading this book was that I learned new things while also being engrossed in a story. I really enjoyed The Conductor (first book in the series) and was excited to read more about Rian's journey, but I liked this one even more. I liked how we learned more about the characters and I really enjoyed learning details about history that I wasn't expecting. The combination of a riveting plot, engaging historical events, and characters that I am loving getting to know made this book a great read. Can't wait for the next one!
The Coachman—the second volume in Roger Smith’s planned nine-book series—builds and accelerates to a stunning, exciting climax that leaves the reader breathless! The book continues the story of Rian Krieger, a 12-year-old girl growing up in Philadelphia in the 1830s. Smith has a gift for character and narrative, and the book – and the series-- are benefitted by the fact that he is not only a writer (and a talented one, at that) but also a professional historian. His background gives the story real depth and detail (unlike many historical novels that focus on the narrative with just an occasional reference to period or custom). I highly recommend The Coachman (and of course, its predecessor The Conductor) to all discerning readers. You’re in for a real treat!
After reading The Conductor, I could not wait to get my hands on The Coachman, and it was everything I had hoped it would be and more! Simply put, Roger Smith is a master of his craft. He meticulously weaves historical details into a compelling story with vivid and relatable characters. In addition to becoming invested in these characters, I learned so much about early 19th century Philadelphia that I could not have learned from a history book. Though a historical novel, this book is relevant and timely. I have genuinely grown fond of the characters and cannot wait to read about the next chapter in Rian Krieger’s journey.
The Coachman is a compelling work of historical fiction and continues the story of Rian Kreiger from Roger Smith’s first book, The Conductor. The Coachman is both a wonderful history of mid 19th century America and an insightful, contemporary saga filled with themes and lessons that resonate today. Mark Twain once said that “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” The Coachman rhymes! As our nation continues to aspire to its founding ideals, Rian’s story serves to remind us all that we all share in this journey with her. Highly recommended! Worthy of a future Masterpiece Theater series on PBS!
After being captivated by Book 1, The Conductor, I was delighted to continue Rian Krieger’s journey with her in Book 2. Now 13, and undaunted as ever, Rian is determined to continue her exciting but dangerous participation in the Underground Railroad, much to her father’s chagrin.
With her usual cunning, Rian manages to stow away on a ship and talk her uncle into taking her to Russia with him on his business trip. All this to avoid being sent by her father to a boarding school for girls in Switzerland.
Rian revels in her new identity as a young coachman as she and her uncle and cousin end up living at the Winter Palace for a time. The intrigue and mystery continue with the burning of the Winter Palace and Rian’s being brought by the Tsar to be his son’s companion.
Roger Smith deftly interweaves fiction with nonfiction as he makes history come alive. And his skillful character development engenders a fondness for the characters, especially Rian’s father Otto, the self-emancipated slave Jules Freeman, and Rian’s Irish cousin Seamus.
Like I feel with a riveting Netflix series, I anxiously await the release of Book 3!
Customer Reviews