The Winthrop Woman (novel)
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Written by Anya Seton in 1958, The Winthrop Woman is a historical fiction novel about Elizabeth Winthrop, the niece and daughter-in-law of John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
[edit] Summary
The Winthrop Woman begins with young Elizabeth Fones and her family traveling to their grandfather's countryside estate to visit their family. Elizabeth's uncle, John Winthrop, is especially pious and strict about Protestanism, and chides his sister for not properly taking care of her children, Elizabeth in particular, who is hot-headed and capricious. Eventually, Elizabeth is caught speaking blasphemy and is beaten, resulting in her becoming a-religious and instilling in her a hatred for her uncle.
Years later, Elizabeth Fones is a beautiful young woman working in her ailing father's apothecary. Though she is in love with her cousin John Winthrop Jr. (Jack), her hand is sought in marriage by Jack's friend Edward Howes. Just when she becomes engaged to Howes, her other cousin Harry, Jack's younger brother, returns from his adventures in Barbadoes. Unlike his father and brother, Harry Winthrop is wild and carefree, reckless to the point that he has depleted all his money and near brought his family to financial ruin. Unwilling to return to his father, Harry Winthrop instead stays in Thomas Fones' house and spends his time frockling with his equally profligate friends. One night, Harry and Elizabeth spend an especially long night out, during which their lust overcomes them and they sleep together in a garden. In yet another reckless act, Harry declares that he is in love with Elizabeth and demands her hand in marriage.
The couple are wed, much to the dismay of both fathers (John Winthrop believing both that his son could do better than a Fones and not being fond of Elizabeth; Thomas Fones dismayed since his daughter was already engaged to Edward Howes). Elizabeth and Harry move to the Winthrop Estate in the countryside, where John Winthrop is no longer residing as he had taken a position elsewhere. For a while, the couple live a happy life. However, it soon comes into light just how profligate Harry is as he neglects his wife and family to have his own fun. In the meantime, Jack returns and it is apparent that he and Elizabeth still have strong feelings for each other. However, while attempting to cover his feelings for his brother's wife, Jack accidentally kisses Martha, Elizabeth's little sister, and soon the two are wed.
Finally, in an attempt to control his son, John Winthrop forces Harry to come to New England with him. In his final act of recklessness, Harry drowns when he attempts to jump in and swim. Elizabeth is thus left as a pregnant widow. After she gives birth to her daughter, she, Jack and Martha, and John Winthrop's wife Margaret all depart for Massachusetts.
In the strict colony in the New World, Elizabeth runs into more trouble than ever. Upon the suggestion of her uncle, she marries Robert Feake, a weak-willed and oddly disturbed man who often has nightmares and commits odd deeds in his sleep. She also attempts to befriend Anne Hutchinson and chooses a tainted squaw, Telaka, for her maid. Eventually, she and her husband Robert are driven out of their house in Watertown because the other colonists believe Telaka to be a witch. The Feakes then settle in Greenwich. However, after run-in's with Indians, Elizabeth and the other co-director of the town, Daniel Patrick turn Greenwich into the Dutch Colony. After Daniel Patrick is murdered by an old enemy, Elizabeth's husband Robert completely loses his mind and turns into a madman and attempts to return to England. Meanwhile, Martha marries Thomas Lyons, who turns out to be a prospective gold-digger. When William Hallett, a previous acquaintance of Elizabeth's, begins courting her and becoming more and more in control of the Feake household, Lyons grows jealous. Finally, Elizabeth and her lover are accused of adultery after having not properly married under English law and all their lands are confiscated. Elizabeth and William Hallett hide under the protection of Jack Winthrop, who is now an important member of another town in Connecticut. After Jack does all he can for his cousin and ex-lover, Elizabeth and William Hallett are once more free to move back to Greenwich. However, their house is then set on-fire by Indians. Elizabeth and William Hallett have no choice but to start anew once more, their hearts heavy but their will strengthened.
