In today’s post, I focus on Christmas Bells, a novel sparked by a 19th-century poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
How could a poem written over 160 years ago lead to a time slip historical novel, set both in the era of the U.S. Civil War and the war in Afghanistan in the early decades of the 2000s?
Author Jennifer Chiaverini inserts the words of the poem at various points in the novel, and she cleverly alternates between the Longfellow family’s encounter with the Civil War, which sticks close to history, and a parallel fictional story set in the early 2000s.
Characters:
The author puts readers under the characters’ skins, so readers feel what they’re going through and root for them
Major Characters in the Civil War-era story:
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow—protagonist, poet and abolitionist, father of a large family
Fanny Longfellow—Henry’s second wife, from a wealthy family
Charley Longfellow—oldest son of Henry and Fanny; he has a passion to fight for the Union Army
Main characters in the story set in the 2000s:
Sophia—young, idealistic music teach and choir director
Lucas—graduate student and choir accompanist
Father Ryan—sympathetic Catholic priest
Sister Winifred—aging nun whose humble manner belies her spiritual wisdom
Laurie—wife of soldier in Afghanistan, mother of Alex and Charlotte
Alex and Charlotte—kids who cope, each in their own way, with their father’s absence
Strengths: • I enjoyed reading about the idealism and principled lives of Henry W. Longfellow and several other major characters • Nice balance between tragic events and hopeful plot arcs
Weakness: Some plot elements in the fact-based plot were hard to believe, even though they were evidently true.
Content review: Descriptions of illness, injuries, and war-related violence make this novel better suited for mature readers.
My recommendation: Readers who enjoy novels with a positive perspective will find Christmas Bells a welcome relief in the current era.
Thank you for reading and supporting my writing in 2024!
These dog days of summer (in my hemisphere) are a great time for a rewarding new look at a familiar story.
How did Abraham Lincoln, arguably the greatest U.S. president, make the amazing leap from country boy in rural Kentucky to the White House?
Nancy Horan’s recent historical novel, TheHouse of Lincoln, offers hints as it reveals how Lincoln’s years in Springfield, Illinois, impacted him.
Brief Summary:
In an entertaining and suspenseful yet historically accurate way, Horan focuses on the complicated background shapinglife in the Illinois capital through the stories of three families:
Mary Todd Lincoln (the family she and Abraham created, as well as her family of origin)
a Portuguese immigrant family, the Ferreiras, whose daughter, Ana works as a domestic for the Lincolns
a free Black family, the Donnegans, whose members play varied roles in the Underground Railroad
TheHouse of Lincoln begins with Ana’s arrival in 1849 at age 9 as part of a group of 130 Portuguese immigrants from Madeira who escaped after harvesting sugar cane in Trinidad.
The author weaves together the story of the Lincolns and Springfield, Illinois—with its Portuguese immigrants, state government, Underground Railway participants, and slave catchers.
Early in the story, the author gives a clue about the historical (and future) conflict in Springfield, when Mrs. Alsop, a White abolitionist widow whom Ana companions, tells her, “This area was settled early on by New England abolitionists. But it was also settled by Kentucky corn crackers and other uplanders from down South. We may live side by side in this town, but we don’t always understand each other.”
The novel ends in 1909 after a celebration of Lincoln’s 100th birthday.
Characters:
Ana Ferreira – protagonist, a sympathetic young Portuguese immigrant who works for the Lincoln family. The story unfolds mostly through her eyes.
Cal (Calli Patterson) – Ana’s childhood best friend; her mixed racial heritage plays a major role in their relationship and the story as a whole
Mary Todd Lincoln – Abraham Lincoln’s wife; the author fairly portrays Mary’s strengths and weaknesses, revealing the background from which the contradictory aspects of her character developed.
Abraham Lincoln – the author shows Lincoln’s roots and humanity as well as the elements of his character that made him great
William Donnegan – adventurous Black cobbler, he conducted escapees from slavery to their next destination in their struggle for freedom
Spencer Donnegan – William’s brother, a barber (to Lincoln and many others) and African Methodist Episcopal preacher in Springfield; he used his talents to write an eloquent address to the people of Illinois, expressing Black demands for the education of Black children, and the repeal of the new Black exclusion laws restricting the settlement of free Blacks in Illinois
Owen Evans – Ana’s husband, he’s a journalist who reports on the Lincoln-Douglas debates. He supports Lincoln and volunteers for the Union Army.
Joao Ferreira – Ana’s younger brother: along with his Portuguese friends, he supports Lincoln and volunteers for the Union Army
Cameo appearances:
Frederick Douglass – enslaved and orphaned as a boy, he became a famous Black orator who opposed colonization of Blacks to Africa; in 1866, after the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination, he speaks in Springfield, arguing for Blacks’ right to vote and warning about the danger that Blacks’ rights (that had only recently been won) would be stripped away.
Stephen Douglas – Lincoln’s opponent in both the campaign for the U.S. Senate from Illinois (in which Douglas defeated Lincoln in 1858) and the presidential race (which Lincoln won in 1860). Douglas didn’t want to offend Southern states by opposing slavery. He declares that only all White men are created equal, while Lincoln insists that Blacks are equal to Whites. His character comes across as weak, especially after Ana hears him tell a lie–that Lincoln would make war on slavery in slaveholding states.
Strengths:
The House of Lincoln brings to life the historical figures of Abraham and Mary Lincoln and their sons, Stephen Douglas, and Frederick Douglass, as well as the fictional characters. The novel also helps readers understand the characters’ (and U.S. society’s) underlying motivations and conflicts.
Weakness:
I found this novel’s beginning a bit slow, but it lays the groundwork for the story, and the pace picks up.
Content review:
The House of Lincoln includes descriptions of some of the violence inflicted on Blacks during this era.
My recommendation:
This novel’s plot is somewhat complex, yet entertaining, suspenseful, and historically accurate. If you appreciate a well-spun plot full of twists and turns, rich characters, and desire a deeper understanding of people and events, you’ll enjoy The House of Lincoln.
Reader, which historical novels have given you new insight into a familiar story?
Suppose you nurtured a passion for your future and studied for years to prepare for it, only to have your father veto your choice!
What would you do?
In 1865, Vita, the teen daughter of a Massachusetts physician, dreams of following in her father’s footsteps, but he adamantly opposes her plan because of her gender.
The Physician’s Daughter, by Martha Conway, skillfully navigates this drama and the creative ways Vita pursues her ambition in an era when women have limited control over their destinies.
After Vita learns of women who have succeeded in becoming physicians, she devotes herself to joining their ranks.
In addition to external challenges, she confronts self-doubt as she realizes her ability to memorize medical facts is only one element in the skillset of a successful physician.
Vita must also deal with her family’s expectations that she will marry and settle into a traditional lifestyle. Her plan to marry but still pursue a career in medicine runs into problems, and the story reveals how she deals with them.
Characters:
Vita, the protagonist – elicits my sympathy for her plight and her smarts, even if her emotional intelligence develops slowly.
Jacob – a damaged veteran of the Civil War, he’s an interesting blend of old-fashioned and modern ideas (for his era), which makes him a challenge for Vita to understand.
Mitty – Vita’s mother, wife of Dar – I sympathized with her position in life, but I found her lacking as a support for Vita’s aspirations
Dar/ Dr. Tenney – Vita’s father, an old-school physician, dubious of women’s capabilities, he’s deeply affected by his son’s death near the end of the Civil War. When Vita brings up her desire to attend medical school, he responds with, “You think you can replace your brother? You hope to profit from our loss, like a turkey vulture? No one can take the place of my son.”
Freddy – Vita’s beloved brother, he dies at the end of the Civil War
Amelia – Vita’s younger sister, she’s very traditional and doesn’t support Vita’s dreams.
Strengths:
The Physician’s Daughter is an engaging portrait of life and women’s struggles in the Civil War era.
Weakness:
The portrayal of Dr. Tenney, Vita’s father, showed no sympathy for Vita; even before his son’s death, he never showed humanity or love toward Vita.
Content review:
The Physician’s Daughter includes descriptions of war wounds and intimacy within marriage.
If you enjoy reading about the Civil War era and howwomen in bygone times have struggled to overcome discrimination, this novel will inspire and appeal to you.
Reader, what novels about women have inspired you?
