A Revolutionary Woman

The Rebellion of Jane Clarke
Sally Gunning

William Morrow, 2010

Jane Clarke lives in pre-Revolutionary War New England. Her life is simple yet rich. She is lucky enough to be able to enjoy the vibrant scent of the ocean breeze, the stark beauty of the dunes, and the stillness of the millpond. Her days are full attending to her father's needs, minding her younger siblings, helping her stepmother, and working with the local midwife. But at twenty-two, Jane knows things will change. For one thing, her father has picked out a young man to be her husband as well as his business partner, but Jane feels unsure of his intentions and her heart. When Jane refuses Phinnie Paine’s proposal of marriage, her father at first attempts to change her mind, then sends her away to Boston to care for her frail, elderly aunt, which turns out to be the second big change in Jane’s life.

At first she dreads the isolation and quiet involved with caring for an invalid, but soon Jane grows attached to her aunt and suspicious of the servants. She suspects them of stealing but can’t prove anything in spite of constantly monitoring them. Why are they acting so strangely? Meanwhile, she develops a friendship with the bookseller Henry Knox, and others who are involved in the growing rebellion against the British. In fact, Jane herself becomes embroiled in the situation when the unexpected kindness of a British soldier pits her against the townspeople who taunt them – and her own brother. The situation threatens to blow up in spite of all her efforts to explain the truth, but no one will listen to her – it’s as if they want an excuse to go to war. Then, Jane witnesses the infamous “Boston Massacre,” when five colonists are killed by British soldiers. Now she must question her own beliefs and values and face one of the most difficult choices of her life – tell the truth and risk estrangement from her friends and family, or be complicit in a lie, which goes against everything she knows.

Gunning has created another historical novel that once again exceeds expectations. Jane is a likeable and agreeable young woman who can’t decide what she wants in life, but she knows she is special and deserves quality in her friends, her books, and a potential husband. The other characters are fascinating – especially the frail aunt who turns into something quite unexpected, and Nate, Jane’s brother, who starts out as a minor character and then becomes the center of the action. Speaking of action, the book is full of it, complete with spies, intrigue, dangerous situations, sexual liaisons, and even forgiveness and reconciliation. This book is almost worthy of five cupcakes, except I didn’t feel the need to turn around and read it again. It was quite satisfying all by itself.

Rating (see guide below):




Other titles by this author:
The Widow’s War (2006) – my favorite!
Bound (2008) – also pretty darn good.

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