Searching for Charles

Testimonials

One of the most engaging historical narratives that I've encountered...The fascinating story of Charles Watts' journey as an English immigrant to the United States in the early 1800's and his amazing journey throughout all of the young country and into Canada...gives insights to the social, economic, political, technological and cultural developments during this time period.

The author has woven the letters into a captivating story of the times and of the social context in an evolving and changing America. Charles’ letters are interspersed with data such as cost of land, construction and agriculture and an analysis of that data to enumerate the differences between his old and new countries. Charles was astute in his observations of the politics and societal issues of the times.

For anyone who loves history, it will be the true story of what pioneers of that area and era experienced in the actual words of Charles Watts. The author's structure makes it easy to move in and out of different timelines, especially to be able to search for dates, place names, etc.

This is a wonderful book! There are three things necessary for a good book - 1. a good story, 2. a good storyteller, 3. a technically well-constructed book. Searching for Charles certainly checked off each of these requirements!

Author Stephen Watts traces the journey of his English great-great grandfather to America via his letters in a very engrossing and intertwined narrative. Searching for Charles is a remarkable feat of scholarship, one that can’t be emulated by ancestry.com, and with sleuthing worthy of a top-notch private eye.

If you enjoy history, this is your chance to get immersed in what it was like to live during the earlier days of the US. Highly recommend this book!

With a combination of deep research and accessible writing, Searching for Charles engaged me from the opening page...It’s what I call a real page-turner. I have read fiction and watched films about the early prairie pioneers but I hadn’t fully appreciated the challenges they faced or the legacy they left and Stephen Watts’ meticulous research adds a compelling degree of social context.

The story of how everything came together for this book (Part 3) was fascinating. It demonstrated Watts's dedication, perseverance, and persistence to uncover and tell the story of his ancestors.

These unique letters offer the reader a fascinating window through which to better view, understand, and experience a portion of the life of an Everyman on the Illinois Prairie...It is a wonderful read and a unique preservation of significant historical materials.

Well-written account using Charles’ letters as the source but also including a ton of research to provide a solid base. I appreciated the summaries provided before the actual letters. Enjoyable read bringing the personalities of those involved to life.

It is one thing to read the history of an area in a textbook or a novel - it’s quite another to see it through the eyes of someone who actually lived it.

I felt like I took a journey back in time.