Honor Bright, an aptly named Quaker woman leaves her home in England with her sister for a new life in 1850s America. Sudden twists and turns in events leaves her alone and then eventually married in her new Ohio home. Quakers don’t believe in slavery and many in the community help runaways in spite of strict laws that not only forbid it, but require those asked by slave catchers to render aid in the capture. Honor defies her family and helps runaways, but the issues are not black and white. Looking at slavery from our perspective, it seems obvious but the issue was more complicated then. Even Honor, who helps runaways as much as she is able, realizes she at first fails to see them as people; hesitates to touch them or drink where they have drunk. The author does a wonderful job as always rendering an historical period in its own terms and the characters are wonderful and true. She has told a complex story in a deceptively simple way.

posted Feb 18, 2013 at 11:04AM

Chevalier always delivers a great story. This one didn't disappoint.

posted Mar 1, 2013 at 4:24PM

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