Scan barcode
A review by ifyouhappentoremember
The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton
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.