“Women of Colonial America”
by Brandon Marie Miller
This book is written more as a documentary than a novel. Each chapter describes the life and actions of a different woman in history. It describes the massive amount of work a woman needed to do in everyday living. It also tells of the discrimination of women in general and the dfferences in how white, African American and Native American women were treated.
Native American women actually had more freedoms than white women. They made the decisions in their family life and could walk away from a marriage, something a white woman could not do.
I was surprised at some of the details and trials each woman faced. I was surprised to learn that Pocahontas was ony 10 years old when she saved John Smith from death. I was surprised that black couples were not allowed to marry and that indentured servants could have their years of service extended for no apparent reason.
It was an interesting read and the group enjoyed reading it.
Next book: “Bathsheba” by Jill Eileen Smith.
We are meeting on Wednesday, August 19th at 6:30 on ZOOM.