Reviews
Hope Leslie: or, Early Times in the Massachusetts, by Carolyn L. Karcher, Catharine Maria Sedgwick
lukescalone's review
4.0
First of all, I have to say that I'm so happy that I discovered this book. I love it immensely and was gripped the entire time. Why are students still reading [b:The Last of the Mohicans|38296|The Last of the Mohicans (The Leatherstocking Tales #2)|James Fenimore Cooper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388199654l/38296._SY75_.jpg|2064030] when they can be reading Hope Leslie, written only a year later and dealing with some of the same themes.
This is a really transgressive book. At times, it turns the "white savior" narrative on its head, requiring the salvation of white people from Native Americans. It depicts a mixed-race couple, Native Man-White Woman, rather than the much more widespread White Man-Native Woman (although does not necessarily endorse it). The main character is a really strong, witty woman. Close friendships arise between whites and Native Americans. It's important to remember that this book was published just before Indian Removal--making the topics here hotly political.
Moreover, Sedgwick had me laughing out loud at times. Moreover, Sedgwick absolutely despises her own character of Jennet. God bless, absolutely incredible.
My primary reservation is with the end of the story. For all of Sedgwick's respect for her Native American characters and transgressions of established norms, she reneges on them in the last few chapters. Ultimately, the book transforms from something progressive into something content with conservatism. I would have liked to see Sedgwick move past this, but I'm not sure if the book could have seen publication had she done so.
Nevertheless, this is probably my favorite of any early American novel to date and I wish it was more widely recognized.
This is a really transgressive book. At times, it turns the "white savior" narrative on its head, requiring the salvation of white people from Native Americans. It depicts a mixed-race couple, Native Man-White Woman, rather than the much more widespread White Man-Native Woman (although does not necessarily endorse it). The main character is a really strong, witty woman. Close friendships arise between whites and Native Americans. It's important to remember that this book was published just before Indian Removal--making the topics here hotly political.
Moreover, Sedgwick had me laughing out loud at times.
Spoiler
When Hope goes to bust Magawsica out of prison, her tutor, Mr. Craddock, implores her to change her mind because she is committing a sin (although one he is willing to acquiesce to for Hope's sake). Earlier in the book, Hope may have said something like, "yes you're right Mr. Craddock, I'm sorry." But no, Hope's character doesn't give a damn about Heaven or Hell so long as she can protect those important to her.Spoiler
At every moment of secrecy, Jennet walks in howling like a wolf, but Sedgwick ends the climax with her fiery death in an explosion at sea while Jennet doesn't even have any idea what is happening around her.My primary reservation is with the end of the story. For all of Sedgwick's respect for her Native American characters and transgressions of established norms, she reneges on them in the last few chapters.
Spoiler
Esther, who was engaged to marry Everell, renounces the engagement so that Hope can have him--even though she would do just as well with their sibling-esque relationship. Perhaps more insidiously, Magawisca and Faith (Hope's sister, who is married to the Pequot Oneco) return to their people, likely never to return to Boston. While we can celebrate Faith's choice to cross boundaries here, Sedgwick's ending acquiesces to segregationism in white-Native affairs.Nevertheless, this is probably my favorite of any early American novel to date and I wish it was more widely recognized.
aliteraryprincess's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kmdegarmo's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book as part of my Read Harder Challenge and that was a mistake. I left it until the end of the year. The language is so dense that at times I couldn’t figure out what was happening. The challenge I read it for was for a book that was assigned and never finished. Definitely a book I wouldn’t recommend. At least the ending was interesting. I’m glad that Sir Philip got blown to smithereens. Serves him right.
oliviacornwell's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed watching this story progress and how it all unfolded. I'm not entirely sure what the overall plot is, other than following a group of Puritans, who are all connected in some way, through events involving Native Americans, romance, and a man posing as a Puritan to obtain the main character as his bride.
I enjoyed many of the characters, Everell, Hope, and Magawisca especially. I also liked the ending, how Sedgwick gave readers a summary of what happened to all of the characters at the end, and the happy endings for some of the characters.
I enjoyed many of the characters, Everell, Hope, and Magawisca especially. I also liked the ending, how Sedgwick gave readers a summary of what happened to all of the characters at the end, and the happy endings for some of the characters.
never_sam's review
3.0
Charlotte Temple was the biggest best teller in American, basically until [b:Uncle Tom's Cabin|46787|Uncle Tom's Cabin|Harriet Beecher Stowe|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414349231s/46787.jpg|2478635] came along. Considering the intensity with which female sexuality and expressions are strictly controlled throughout the entire book, I am somewhat surprised the book was so popular. But, I suppose, at the same time I'm not. Published in the 1790s, there was a dark cloud of female suppression hanging over America at this time. I supposed I just wanted to believe that women would have recognized their own abilities, talents, skills, understandings, and depths and not dismissed them so readily as is indicated by the vast popularity of this work.
Although I think this book is a sentimental, anti-woman work, there is something important to be said about the fame of this early work of American literature that was written by a woman. An article by Jane Tompkins elucidates the importance and unjust treatment received by Susanna Rowson in her lifetime and how that heritage of dismissal was carried on into our age. Charles Brockden Brown is considered the father of the American novel, but Rowson was writing at the same period and much more prolifically than Brown did. But because of the gender stereotyping and restrictions, considering her for the role of the mother of the American novel would've been impossible to consider. In many ways, Rowson would've agreed with this assessment of her work, at least considering the contents of this novel. She is not interested in exalting the place of women, but in reaffirming the status quo. In this way Brown should be considered the father of American literature because he challenged the status quo in many ways.
Spoiler
This work directly links the titular character's death to the fact she decided to have sex. If she had appropriately obeyed the male authority figures in her life she would be alive and perfectly happy and content.Although I think this book is a sentimental, anti-woman work, there is something important to be said about the fame of this early work of American literature that was written by a woman. An article by Jane Tompkins elucidates the importance and unjust treatment received by Susanna Rowson in her lifetime and how that heritage of dismissal was carried on into our age. Charles Brockden Brown is considered the father of the American novel, but Rowson was writing at the same period and much more prolifically than Brown did. But because of the gender stereotyping and restrictions, considering her for the role of the mother of the American novel would've been impossible to consider. In many ways, Rowson would've agreed with this assessment of her work, at least considering the contents of this novel. She is not interested in exalting the place of women, but in reaffirming the status quo. In this way Brown should be considered the father of American literature because he challenged the status quo in many ways.
annabolson's review
3.0
I think this book provides great fodder for discussion, especially in a college class. There are still problematic aspects, the portrayal of Native Americans and their relationship to the Europeans especially. However, I still enjoyed it, and it had some unexpected surprises.
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