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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Wakulla Book Review: The Frenchman by Sandra Julian Barker



“The Frenchman”:  “Sandra Barker weaves an incredible tale in this historical fiction novel based on Rene de St. Julien, her grandfather seven generations back.

Intertwining fact with fiction, we travel with Rene as he leaves the only home he has ever known and his little sister Bernadette following the death of his father.

Ending up in Paris in the home of his mother’s brother who is Catholic and hates Rene and his Huguenot (Protestant) beliefs, for two years, Rene becomes little more than a slave to his uncle.

This novel shows the resiliency of the human spirit as we watch Rene grow from a boy to a man.  We experience the wonders, friendships, loves, heartbreaks, lies, deceits, and religious persecutions a this young man struggles to hold onto his faith in a time where it is becoming extremely dangerous to be a Huguenot.

We glimpse some of the politics of the late 1600s and early 1700s as Rene enters the military under King Louis XIV of France, flees for his life after the religious freedom act is revoked, enters the Dutch military under the Protestant king William the Orange and follows him to England where he is crowned William III in place of the Catholic king, King James.

Finally, we travel with Rene to America after he struggles with the decision to leave the military and Europe, knowing he’d never see his sister Bernadette again.

Again his faith is tested through a series of events that leaves him shipwrecked in Bermuda; where he trusts love again.


With a new wife, he lands in South Carolina.  In a vast new world, Rene and his wife Margaret fight through hardships and lose to forge a legacy that is still being experienced today.  This is an excellent read.”


Wakulla Book Review
A review by “Bill C.”



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I want to personally thank all the men who are reviewing the books written by JOHN 3:16 AUTHORS. I am thankful that we are able to bless them and appreciate the encouragement given to us by their reviews. 



Each WEEK (usually on Tuesday), we are posting reviews from 
Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. 





Inmates are loving the new books from John 3:16 authors. 
Chaplain Steve Fox is adding the new books to the prison library in this initiative to "change lives to ensure a safer Florida."

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