March by Geraldine Brooks
Posted: Friday, November 16, 2007
by Hannah Quinn
Too-Write! Professional Services
I really enjoyed this book. It picks up a 'neglected' character from Louisa May Allcott's Little Women, the father, John March. During the original book, he is away, South, during the American Civil War. March starts when he is a young man peddling various wares (door-to-door), eking out a modest income and collecting books. He offers the books amongst his wares but does not sell them; instead he exchanges them for other books. He meets a plantation owner, Clement, who has a vast library and an ailing wife and is invited to stay as long as he likes. Every evening they discuss books and various topics, and during the day March has full access to the library.
There are slaves on the plantation but March, already an abolitionist, feels they are well cared for, well treated and are happy. This appears so especially because Grace, the maid to the wife in the household, is very well spoken and knowledgeable and often acts as would a hostess with good southern manners. She encourages March to teach one of the girl slaves to read and write because the girl is very bright. He is nonplussed that it must be done in secret, but complies. When they are discovered, because he naively blurts it out, and whose idea it was, he is appalled to see Grace whipped for her transgression. This causes him to fully question his own actions and the situation of slaves and he becomes a pro-active abolitionist.
Over time he builds up a reasonable financial portfolio, marries, has his 'little women' and, with Marmee, his wife, becomes part of the underground helping slaves escape North. He befriends John Brown, one of the most well-known abolitionists and is led down some 'unfortunate' financial paths. Having lost most of his money, but still wanting to do something active and positive against slavery, he goes South as an army chaplain.
He has several adventures, including meeting up with Grace again and developing a lasting friendship with her. He becomes seriously ill and is unexpected to survive; he is moved to a hospital in Virginia. His wife comes to visit - an event which happens in Little Women - and his struggle to survive both physically and emotionally is underscored by Marmee's visit and his being nursed by Grace.
Here, the point of view shifts to Marmee - because March is delirious and unconscious. Although well done and adding another level of emotional conflict to the story, it causes something of an uneasiness simply because Brooks is using another author's character here. In the end, March returns to his family to fully recuperate, as happens in Little Women.
Overall, I loved this book. It is well written and although there are minor references to Little Women, especially in the letters March writes home - and there is an overuse of his referring to his 'little women' in these letters - it is a separate book entirely and can be read without ever having read Little Women. The writing is tight, authentic, well paced, and covers both macro issues and micro/personal issues with a deft hand, wit, sensitivity and an eye for detail. The facts of the Civil War are included unobtrusively, with authenticity and strong emotional accessibility, and give no favours to either side in terms of behaviour and attitudes.
I am happy to recommend this book, even to those who believe one author should never write on another author's character/s.
This review may be reprinted provided the author's name and link are included and the author is notified.
© Hannah Quinn 2007
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I notice you do quite a few book reviews, you must be a prolific reader! :D
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