Mary's Land
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| Author | Lucia St. Clair Robson |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Back in Print |
| Released | 1 November 2003 (Hardback was published by Ballantine 1995) |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 465 pages (Paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-595-30105-3 (Paperback edition) |
Mary's Land, by Lucia St. Clair Robson, is a 1995 historical novel, set in the year 1638.
As the ship Charity sails from England across the Atlantic, two vastly different yet equally courageous women make the perilous journey. Strong-willed, upper-class Margaret Brent has decided to make better use of her dowry than to hand it over to some doddering squire. She has invested in Lord Baltimore's Maryland plantation, because the new colony is her single chance for a home of her own and the right to practice openly her Catholic religion.
Anicah is a teenage guttersnipe who lives by her wits and quick tongue. Kidnapped off the streets of Bristol, she is transported to the New World and indentured to Samuel Smythe, a local tavern keeper.
Margaret Brent is an actual historical figure. Although the novel takes liberties, it's fairly factual in regard to Brent's family, which figured prominently in Maryland's early history. Margaret Brent is regarded as the first woman lawyer in America and the first woman in America to ask for the right to vote. Some of the dialogue in the book is not suitable for children.
[edit] Excerpt from Mary's Land
- Lord Baltimore’s formula for granting land in exchange for laborers was subject to change with the exigencies of his finances. The original twenty Adventurers received the most generous area, with the amount dropping in each succeeding year. But Baltimore had promised Margaret and her brothers land at the original rate, a manor of two thousand acres (8 km²) for every five men they transported.
- He also guaranteed her land in the town of St. Mary’s, ten acres for herself, her sister, and for each of her two men and three maidservants. Margaret had calculated the numbers over and over in her head. As soon as she could arrange for the transport of three more men, she and Mary would have 2,070 acres to cultivate.
- She was thinking about buying the term of one of the women belowdecks too, when she noticed something near shore.
- “Look ye, Giles.” Margaret pointed to a hollowed-out log, half hidden behind a tree that had fallen into the water.
- A man occupied the canoe. At least he had the form of a man, and Margaret could see his form because he was naked. His head was shaven but for a tall, stiff crest of hair running from his forehead to his nape. Several feathers jutted from it. His face was painted half blue and half red. He sat so still Margaret could have believed him carved in dark wood with polished obsidian inlaid for eyes. Those eyes looked directly into hers as the ship sailed past.
