Books: The Matchlock Gun

While I was in Spain, I got a chance to see some interesting specimens from the Royal Armory in the Royal Palace of Madrid. There were swords, armor, crossbows - and even primitive 16th century matchlock guns, some that looked so large they'd be hard to carry. As far as I know, the only children's book to star a huge gun like those Spanish guns is "The Matchlock Gun" by Walter Edmonds.

It was originally written in 1941, and it'd probably be unpublishable today (what with all the complaints from Native Americans and other minorities). "The Matchlock Gun" is, nevertheless, a Newberry Award-winning children's book set in the tumult of the French and Indian War. It depicts a Dutch family struggling to make it on the frontier, and its messages about self-reliance and bravery are still relevant, even if some wring their hands over other aspects of the narrative.

Edward is a boy living with his family in 1756, and he is fascinated by the impractical, gigantic Spanish matchlock that his father keeps as an heirloom. When his father is called off to militia duty, though, he becomes the man of the house, so to speak. Would Edward be able to handle this gun if trouble actually came?

I said the book was unpublishable, but it's not really clear why people should be upset. Any honest depiction of colonial America will probably include slaves - what, do people want history whitewashed like it was in the Mel Gibson movie "The Patriot"? And maybe people shouldn't be so up in arms about its depiction of Native Americans as ruthless, effective fighters - isn't it better than the alternative, which is to say that American Indians were hoodwinked and hapless victims? In any case, "The Matchlock Gun" is an interesting book and a good counterpart to crap like "The Rifle."