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bethsponz's review
4.0
This is one of my favorite authors. This book is quite a journey for Elizabeth Winthrop. This story shows the early days of Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the surrounding areas of the Dutch settlements. Seton knows her early American history and the details are incredible. Her writing just captures you in and it keeps your interest through out the book. The last half of the book was just one thing after another happening! A must read for Anya Seton fans and for a good historical story of the new world.
thebacklister's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ifyouhappentoremember's review
2.0
I struggled with this book, I really did. It's just so boring compared to [b: Katherine|33609|Katherine|Anya Seton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436406825l/33609._SY75_.jpg|2372397] and [b: Dragonwyck|122856|Dragonwyck|Anya Seton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328857302l/122856._SY75_.jpg|2372385]. Did I mention how long this book is? It's so long, I could do with about 200 pages cut (and even then I would probably still find it a slog).
I have been making my way through Anya Seton's books and so far, I've mostly enjoyed it. But The Winthrop Woman nearly broke me. If Elizabeth Fones wasn't an actual living person I would have assumed that she was Anya Seton's self-insert. Elizabeth had no flaws unless you count, rebellious to authority and questioning the teachings of the church as major flaws. The problem is, Elizabeth feels like a modern character dropped into the 17th century. She doesn't feel like a woman who was shaped by the major forces and influences of the day. Constantly being told of how modern, different, and tolerant Elizabeth was got old so quickly.
I'm also just so tired of the 'noble savage' stereotype and the simplistic history of the colonization of the United States. I want more nuance, more complexity in examining history, especially United States history. For all criticism she throws on the Puritans, Elizabeth embodies very American qualities and is framed as finally in a land where her qualities are necessary and integral to survival. I can't fault Seton too much for this because this was published in the 1950s and is very much a product of the mythologization of American history and what I call 'American Inevitability', the belief that the United States was always meant to be a world power, the evidence of which can be seen in the history, proving the exceptionalism and greatness of the United States. I just, strangely enough, expected better.
To sum up my thoughts on The Winthrop Woman: I expected better. I expected better characterizations, a better story, and better use of word count.
I have been making my way through Anya Seton's books and so far, I've mostly enjoyed it. But The Winthrop Woman nearly broke me. If Elizabeth Fones wasn't an actual living person I would have assumed that she was Anya Seton's self-insert. Elizabeth had no flaws unless you count, rebellious to authority and questioning the teachings of the church as major flaws. The problem is, Elizabeth feels like a modern character dropped into the 17th century. She doesn't feel like a woman who was shaped by the major forces and influences of the day. Constantly being told of how modern, different, and tolerant Elizabeth was got old so quickly.
I'm also just so tired of the 'noble savage' stereotype and the simplistic history of the colonization of the United States. I want more nuance, more complexity in examining history, especially United States history. For all criticism she throws on the Puritans, Elizabeth embodies very American qualities and is framed as finally in a land where her qualities are necessary and integral to survival. I can't fault Seton too much for this because this was published in the 1950s and is very much a product of the mythologization of American history and what I call 'American Inevitability', the belief that the United States was always meant to be a world power, the evidence of which can be seen in the history, proving the exceptionalism and greatness of the United States. I just, strangely enough, expected better.
To sum up my thoughts on The Winthrop Woman: I expected better. I expected better characterizations, a better story, and better use of word count.
susanp's review
4.0
Well-written, well-researched historical fiction. Excellent character development.
eckermama's review
4.0
This was a beast of a book that I almost didn’t finish, but I’m so glad I did. Following the life of Elizabeth Fones in the 1600s, The Winthrop Woman blurs the line between historical fiction and documented fact. The amount and accuracy of historical detail is impressive and the foundation of the entire book. The story is steeped in the political turmoil of 17th century England, the wild and unstable settling of the American colonies, and inevitably sprinkled with bits of church history. It offers a larger look at history while somehow also zooming in on the lives of the real people who were affected by, and in some cases, actively shaped the history that we know. I kept my phone handy through most of the reading to look up people, details, and maps because I was fascinated with how the stories were told in this book. In places, the attempt to add allll the historical context does tend to bog the story down, but it recovers and keeps moving.
This is no cheery look at the past. It’s filled with hardships and heartaches, but also glimpses of courage, endurance, and joy. As a lover of historical fiction, I will definitely be reading more of Anya Seton’s work.
This is no cheery look at the past. It’s filled with hardships and heartaches, but also glimpses of courage, endurance, and joy. As a lover of historical fiction, I will definitely be reading more of Anya Seton’s work.
drlisak's review
3.0
This is one of those times I wish I could give 1/2 stars. I would say 3 1/2. I found the story fascinating, although it became almost too intense for me. At the same time, I know this is historical fiction based on a true life, so I guess that intensity was the reality of Elizabeth Winthrop's existence. I read this in the Kindle version, which was so riddled with typos that I became thoroughly annoyed. I don't really understand that in a book put out by a publishing house, and I find it frustrating.
emjay24's review
5.0
I can't believe this was published in 1958! I read most of Anya Seton's books in highschool or college, not this one, but all that were at the library, and i didn't even realize they were so old. I loved this book because it's about the puritans and the colonization of New England. I actually had a distant relative on the mayflower, but this one isn't about the pilgrims. most of what we learned about the first settlers started after they came here to america but this one begins in england, and it taught me a lot of what i didn't learn in school. Seton spent a ton of effort researching this and getting things right, and these people were always writing back and forth, they wrote as much as people do now!! so there was a lot of original content. she'd include parts of the real letters right into the story, it's very accurate. But beyond the story itself, there is the whole thing of how modern a depiction the author gave back in the late 50's. she had a very modern point of view, which is pointed out in the forward that phillipa gregory wrote. seton was ahead of her time. this book just pulled me in and captured me. it drew me in, until near the end, when only then did it start to drag. i didn't like the main character so much anymore, although it was noted she changed so that makes sense. (it took me so long to finish because i was reading a couple other books at the same time, plus i went on vacation and had to leave this one at home). i'm so glad i didn't read this when i was younger, so i could experience it for the first time now. if you're at all interested in history, especially history of new england or the puritans, if you want to know what made them tick, or just learn about an interesting woman who really existed, pick up this book!!
maryfrances_odea's review
4.0
This book was a great find! Such an amazing history (not particularly flattering I might add) of the founding of the Colonies by the people fleeing religious persecution in England.
It avoids 5 stars because it does drag at the end and frankly it just seems crazy this poor woman goes through all she does - however, the book is so amazingly researched, I'm sure it's true, just depressing.
Great, educational read!
It avoids 5 stars because it does drag at the end and frankly it just seems crazy this poor woman goes through all she does - however, the book is so amazingly researched, I'm sure it's true, just depressing.
Great, educational read!
maplessence's review
3.0
I have given 3.5★ . Just can't quite push my rating up to 4.
While I loved [b:Katherine|17908563|Katherine|Anya Seton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375136913s/17908563.jpg|2372397] which is supposed to be Seton's best work, I am starting to think that in most of her books, Seton lacks the ability to make me care about her characters. & Seton shares the heavy foreboding style of [a:Jean Plaidy|6590|Jean Plaidy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1237699211p2/6590.jpg] where you start to wonder if all these real life characters had the gift of second sight!
The most interesting parts of the story were Elizabeth's early life in England and right at the end with Elizabeth's third husband. There Elizabeth shows some normal human frailties & Seton having her in love withFor a lot of the book Elizabeth was just too perfect for me where in real life she must have been a truly remarkable, flawed & strong willed woman who defied a lot of conventions. I think Seton tried to show this but wimped out. But a big plus for showing the unfairness to the native population, but then a big minus, for the way Seton shows secondary character Anneke's heavily accented English.
Just painful.
A lot of research went into this book. Unfortunately Seton wanted to use all of it.
While I loved [b:Katherine|17908563|Katherine|Anya Seton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375136913s/17908563.jpg|2372397] which is supposed to be Seton's best work, I am starting to think that in most of her books, Seton lacks the ability to make me care about her characters. & Seton shares the heavy foreboding style of [a:Jean Plaidy|6590|Jean Plaidy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1237699211p2/6590.jpg] where you start to wonder if all these real life characters had the gift of second sight!
The most interesting parts of the story were Elizabeth's early life in England and right at the end with Elizabeth's third husband. There Elizabeth shows some normal human frailties & Seton having her in love with
Spoiler
her cousin Jack? Is there any basis for this? I'm not finding anything online. Made me think - a lot-of [b:Angelique|1175147|Angelique (Angelique Original version, #1)|Anne Golon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1332064569s/1175147.jpg|1162918] & [b:Forever Amber|5368|Forever Amber |Kathleen Winsor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1350464965s/5368.jpg|2522906] with ill fated first loves."Ve can do nothing..."
Just painful.
A lot of research went into this book. Unfortunately Seton wanted to use all of it.