Throwback Thursday

Good evening, my fellow Book Dragons. I do hope today finds you as well as can be expected. Our Gem this evening comes from out of the past. It is akin to a Garnet, deep, blood red, in the shape of a teardrop. It comes from the year 1859, from Mississippi. A teardrop is appropriate for this Gem, there is so much sadness during the time it was fashioned. This is Gem Maker Diane C. McPhail’s “The Abolitionist’s Daughter”.

This tale is based partially in fact, as Ms. McPhail tells us in her acknowledgements. She did a fine job of researching her facts, incorporating her dialog, accents, elements and historical events. This tale is tight, and it’s characters are needful, no one is one too many.

The book itself is very nearly more like a diary, as though someone were living in the with the main character Emily and then keeping a log of all that happened. This made it all the more interesting, as though a series of vignettes are recorded without the tedious nature that some large and heavy handed historical novels become. We see the time shortly before the Civil War and during it, not through the eyes of a spoiled southern belle, but through the eyes of a southern woman who wants slavery to end so badly. A woman raised to believe it can happen. A woman whose own father ran an illegal school for his own slaves with the full intention of setting them free when they were educated and it would not be a harm to them to do so.

I look forward to more from Diane C. McPhail. I could tell she loves this place she writes about. It is not just a spot on a map. This is in her blood. This comes in all forms and is quite reasonably prices. If you decide to get if for yourself you will not be disappointed.

Until tomorrow, I remain, your humble Book Dragon,

Drakon T. Longwitten

I received my copy of this book from #DianeCMcPhail as part of her book tour with #HFVBTBlogTours for #TheAbolitionistsDaughter