The Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet in California, Sonora, and Western Texas

The Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet in California, Sonora, and Western Texas is a novel by Frederick Marryat, first published in 1843. Captain Frederick Marryat (1792-1848) was a British Royal Navy officer and writer, best known for his adventure novels, including Mr. Midshipman Easy and Children of the New Forest.
The book follows the exploits of its titular character, Monsieur Violet, a European adventurer who travels through the rugged and often dangerous landscapes of the American Southwest and Mexico in the early 19th century. The narrative blends elements of travelogue, adventure, and fiction, drawing on Marryat's own experiences and observations of frontier life.
The story takes place during a turbulent period in North American history, featuring interactions with Native American tribes, Mexican settlers, and American frontiersmen. The novel explores themes of cultural conflict, survival, and the clash between European and indigenous ways of life.
Marryat's depiction of the West is romanticized yet includes critiques of colonialism and the treatment of Native peoples. His portrayal of the Comanche, Navajo, and other tribes reflects both the fascination and prejudices of 19th-century European writers.
While not as famous as Marryat's nautical tales, The Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet remains an interesting example of early Western adventure literature. It provides a glimpse into how Europeans imagined the American frontier before the era of mass migration and the Gold Rush.
About the Author
Captain Frederick Marryat CB FRS (10 July 1792 - 9 August 1848) was a Royal Navy officer and novelist. He is noted today as an early pioneer of nautical fiction, particularly for his semi-autobiographical novel Mr Midshipman Easy (1836). He is remembered also for his children's novel The Children of the New Forest (1847). In addition, he developed a widely used system of maritime flag signalling, known as Marryat's Code.
From 1832 to 1835, Marryat edited The Metropolitan Magazine. Additionally, he kept writing novels; his biggest success came with Mr Midshipman Easy in 1836. He lived in Brussels for a year, travelled in Canada and the United States, and moved to London in 1839, where he was in the literary circle of Charles Dickens and others. He was in North America in 1837 when rebellion broke out in Lower Canada, and served with the expeditionary force sent to suppress it.
Marryat's novels are typical of their time, with concerns of family connections and social status often overshadowing the naval action. He based much of his fiction on his 25 years' experience at sea. Among those who admired his works were Mark Twain, Joseph Conrad, and Ernest Hemingway. As the first nautical novels, they served as models for 20th century works by C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian. These also were set in the time of Nelson and told of young men rising through the ranks due to their successes as naval officers.
Marryat was also known for short writings on nautical subjects. These short stories, plays, pieces of travel journalism, and essays were published in The Metropolitan Magazine, and many were later collected in book form as Olla Podrida.
Marryat's 1839 Gothic novel The Phantom Ship contained "The White Wolf of the Hartz Mountains". This featured the first female werewolf to appear in a short story.
In 1839, Marryat also published his Diary in America, a travelogue that reflects his criticisms of American culture and society. The book and the author were both subject to acts of violence. The book and Marryat's effigy were each burned in public. ... (wikipedia.org)