Review: Sons of Providence, by Charles Rappleye

  

SONS OF PROVIDENCE, The Brown Brothers,  The Slave Trade, and The American Revolution 
Charles Rappleye,
Simon and Schuster
Hardcover, 416 pages
0743266870.






John and Moses Brown, two incongruous brothers were loyal to Britain. Yet, when a series of revenue raising taxes descended on the colonies, the Browns saw it as economic servitude to England. Charles Rappleye presents a history of Rhode Island and the Slave Trade through his research of primary documents and through letters of correspondence between the Brown brothers. Most people would be surprised to read about the significance of the Browns, and the relationship Newport and Providence and all Rhode Island had in the slave trade.

John and Moses Brown were originally were collaborators in the slave trade, but their legacies would diverge and history would remember their roles differently. Where John was an avid proponent of slavery and compulsive capitalist. Moses turned Quaker and was equally an unshakable abolitionist and social reformer. They polar opposites in values and appearance and they were stubborn in their ideals of liberty.

The Gaspee incident in Narragansett Bay, was a significant event led by John Brown that would establish Rhode Island equal to Boston as a rebellious colony. Also, throughout New England, slavery was most widespread in Rhode Island and the slave trade would remain entrenched in their harbors for many years.

John and Moses Brown were prominent business leaders in many areas. John was an investor in real estate, Moses was credited with establishing one of America’s first banks and introducing textile technology that allowed New England to compete with England as the Industrial Revolution moved forward. They both collaborated to establish Brown University where it is today.

Rhode Island is a familiar setting to me and this history provided a valuable addition to my existing schema. Charles Rappleye humanizes this history lesson from two opposing viewpoints and the insight of first hand witnesses. Sons of Providence clarifies many misconceptions in history and furnishes a glimpse into the tenets of the time period. Highly recommended.


 Disclosure: This book was a self-purchase.

Awards: 

George Washington Book Prize 2007

 
© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013].




 Wisteria Leigh February 14, 2013

Review-The Tory Widow

The Tory Widow
Christine Blevins
BerkleyTrade
$15.00/C$18.50
0425226018
400p.2009





Fireworks occur when the irresistible characters in Christine Blevins’ new novel, The Tory Widow come together in New York City in 1775.

After Anne and Peter Merrick are married a kiss takes place just minutes after this arranged marriage-but not between husband and wife. An overzealous handsome stranger leaps out of nowhere to seize and kiss Anne. Sadly she is disenchanted with her husband, a man old enough to be her father, whose breath reeks of onion. The young man is the brazen Jack Hampton, a member of the Sons of Liberty who is a bit drunk from celebrating the repeal of the Stamp Act, and his kiss lingers in Anne's mind like a stubborn stain.

Years later in 1775, Anne is widow with no means of support. She decides to continue printing the Tory propaganda that her husband favored even though she did not. As the Patriots create havoc in the city no Loyalist is safe. Businesses are ruined, people are tarred and feathered and frun out of town.

One day Anne is visited by the Sons of Liberty whose leader is none other than Jack Hampton. She recognizes him as the Patriot bandit who stole a kiss years ago. He is nothing like his former self. Completely changed he is a wild rogue, an evil enemy, and a heartless rebel. He leaves her in desperate straits as they demolish the presses leaving the place in shambles.

Anne refuses to give up. She is a tenacious woman with strength and creativity who reopens as a tea shop, with a new Patriot sign.

Unable to avoid the allure of Jack Hampton and that kiss,she cannot resist his charm.
When he realizes she is not a Tory and gains her trust, she joins his cause and is prepared this time to commit to being a Patriot. The relationship is not a smooth ride as complications interfere. Anne becomes involved with a Loyalist officer who is quartered in her home. His name is Edward Blankenship,a handsome, polite, gentlemen who adores Anne. Jack and Edward enemies in war and enemies in romance fighting on two fronts, makes this story a captive tale. .

A thought provoking ending sets up the possibility of a sequel. Let’s hope. Escape to another era in this mesmerizing historical fiction romance of the American Revolution. Blevins has created plausible compelling characters who live outside the pages, romantic tension and sizzling hot dialogue you won’t believe.

Wisteria Leigh
©