Ten years after disembarking from the Mayflower, the Plymouth colonists is chugging along as best they can with marshy soil and fewer residents than they would like. Particularly troublesome to the community leaders is former indentured servant John Billington, who feels as if he's getting the short shrift on land and communal stores. And while this book checks in with Billington over the course of the fateful day on which most of the plot happens, it mostly focuses on two women in Plymouth — Billington's wife, Eleanor, and Alice Bradford, wife of the governor. Nesbit created a this story based on real people and real events, though by presenting the women's point of view, the motivations and politics take on a very different shade from that which is often seen in history books. I didn't think I'd be captivated by a novel set among the Puritans, but I was. A fantastic historical fiction novel.
No comments:
Post a Comment