I am continuing in my efforts to read more historical fiction books that take place in America so I thank Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for sending me a copy of The Rose and the Whip by Jae Hodges at no charge for my honest review.
About The Rose and the Whip:
Lidia Wardell walked naked through the Newbury meeting house. She was prosecuted, and publicly whipped for this crime.
This event is common historical knowledge. The Rose and the Whip is set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in May 1663, but tells the entire story of systematic persecution of dissenters, by dissenters. Lidia relates the story of her life, and the series of events that culminated in her decision to take this action in protest of the Puritan community leaders’ treatment of Quakers. As she is charged, sentenced, and tied to the whipping post, then subsequently thrashed with twenty or thirty lashes, she critically examines each of these events and reflects on how they served to transform her and her perspectives on truth and faith.
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About the Author:
Everyone has a history and a story. Jae uses the most alluring stories from the chronicles of her own ancestry and others around her to create timeless tales of everyday people making history. On her quest to capture the essence of walking in their footsteps, she travels and uses her pencil and camera lens to imagine them in their own surroundings.
Jae lives on the Tennessee River in Alabama with her husband and companion pooch.
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My Opinion:
The Rose and the Whip is based in history and the author choses to let the heroine tell the tale in her own voice. As the story takes place in the 17th century it takes a little to adjust to the cadence of the writing but it’s better told this way. It is also, somehow a story that belongs as much to today in some ways as to history.
As Lidia shares the story through each step of her experience the reader is immersed with her and it’s not always easy and sometimes downright uncomfortable. Then you realize that the people who are punishing Lidia for her religious apostasy are people who left England in fear for their lives because of their religious beliefs.
Quite the brain twist that, eh?
Ms. Hodges builds a truly compelling read out of limited historical records. Lidia is a very sympathetic character and what was done to her and her family is absolutely horrifying. For believing in a different way to pray. For a country started by people running from persecution we sure do know how to persecute – and we haven’t stopped. You would think after almost 350 years we would have learned.
This is a good read about the beginnings of the country and how it dealt with provacative issues. I read it in one sitting.
Rating:
4.5
The Giveaway:
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of The Rose and the Whip by Jae Hodges! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on August 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
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