Customer Reviews

Dawn's Early Light

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first of Thane's "Williamsburg Novels" and the first I ever read, "Dawn's Early Light" is a master construction of plot, personalities, history and eloquent atmosphere. The main fictional characters interact casually and naturally with their famous (and factual) neighbors, and the candlelit or dusty summer day ambience rings true and compelling. Thane's research is not only above reproach, but she details battle scenes, geographical locations, actual historical characters, political and ideological viewpoints and dialogue so comprehensively that reading her novels is akin to dreaming your way (very vividly) back in time. Naturally the reader in 2001 must overlook or take in context Ms. Thane's inevitable early 20th century biases, but this is not difficult to any person with historical perspective and cultural awareness. Ms. Thane's main fictional characters -- Julian Day, the uncomfortable Tory newcomer in a hotbed of rebels; Tabitha Mawes, the child of disgrace and poverty who adores the new young schoolmaster with a very unchildlike love; St. John Sprague the firebrand patriot whose friendship with Julian brings him a rival in love as well as at long last a comrade in arms, and so many more -- are brought to life to the point where visiting Williamsburg one almost expects to bump into them in Francis Street. But perhaps Thane's greatest accomplishment is to have taken a host of Founding Fathers such as Washington, Lafayette, Jefferson, Francis Marion, George Wythe and others out of the category of glorified but wooden history book images and turned them into believably human presences. An excellent story, characters of poignant clarity, set into the backdrop of the American Revolution. An unbeatable book.

The first book of the the "Williamsburg Series" I ever read was "Ever After", tucked away with other of my mother's books. I fell in love with the characters and England at the age of 12. After finishing the book I hied to the library and one by one picked up the other books in the series which were still available in the 1960's. During the 70's I visited Williamsburg three times, reliving the area through Ms. Thane's books. My greatest joy was having my oldest son choose the College of William and Mary for his undergraduate degree. The highlight of my literary life occurred when I discovered the bookstore in Williamsburg carried all of Ms. Thane's books, which were all purchased immediately. I have read and reread these books for over 30 years and now I am so pleased to have my daughter experience them. The Days, Spragues, Campions, and their worlds gave me and my son an incredible lust for history, both American and English. I still get a lump in my throat every time I see, hear, read, etc. anything about Williamsburg. Anyone who intends to visit the area should be introduced to these books before they go (although I do have to admit that these books are "chick stuff"!)

I first read Dawn's Early Light and the other novels in the Williamsburg series 40 or 45 years ago, when we took them out of the library over and over again and read and reread them until I still could probably reconstruct large chunks of them verbatim if I were stuck on a desert island. The characterizations are so good that even years after my last rereading I can keep the complex family trees straight without effort. The well researched settings are so well done that even today they form the basis for a lot of my general knowledge of American (and later English) history in the periods they cover. The story pulls you right in, the characters are realistic, lovable, and intelligent, the dialogue is witty, the writing excellent--the Days, Spragues, and in the later books the Campions have always felt like members of my own family. What could be a better indicator of a great read? I'm glad to have thought of looking for them on amazon and am pleased but not surprised to find they're still in print.

I first found the novel Yankee Stranger,the second book in the Williamsburg series, on the bottom shelf of a small town library. I was 13 at the time. I went home and curled up on my bed for a slow summer day read. I didn't not move for a solid eight hours. I was captured by the excellent history and charactization in that work. My mother asked what in the world I was reading. I told her the best book I've ever read. I was wrong. There are several books,all by Elswyth Thane,and each and everyone of them are the best. I read these books eight years ago. I still remeber the charaters I came to love. This book is the first book in a series that will lovingly haunt you for the rest of your life. Its awsome scenery and its family of characters will endure in your heart forever. Its more than a romance its an experience of times, places, and people that you will love for a lifetime.

The main characters are Julian Day, A young schoolmaster from England, St. John Sprauge, a hot blooded patriot, and Tabitha (Tibby) Mawes, a young lady who idolizes Julian. It is set during the Revoulutionary war, and is very exciting. In the beginning, Julian Day, who at the time is a Tory, arrives in Williamsburg, Virginia. He is visiting from England. On the voyage over his father had died. As he walked out of an ale house Tibby Mawes's stepfather, in a drunken rage, throws her off him and breaks Tibby's arm. Tibby falls in love with Julian Day, and the results are in the book. it has an incredibly twisted plot which you will have to read the book to find out. Sorry for exciting you about telling the plot. So there.

P.S. We are 11, 11, and 14.

This is the beginning book in a series of books called the Williamsburg novels. I have been reading and re-reading this series of 7 books for over 50 years. They are my all time favorite books. Each book deals with a war or pre-war action (except the war of 1812) in which the US has taken part from the Revolutionary War (Dawn's Early Light) to the Civil War (Yankee Stranger) to the Homing with is the last of the series and the 4th book which deals with WWI and WWII and the years in between. They are a great source of history. Ms Thane (widow of the explorer Dr. William Beebe) has done an excellent job of research for each of the books. I hope others find them as wonderful, and as entertaining as I do. I have read my old copies until they are falling apart. I was very excited to find they had been reprinted and purchased them immediately.

My 5th grade teacher didn't like me much, but she knew I was a reader. She introduced me to Elswyth Thane, and after that I read all of her novels , and so did my mother, who enjoyed them as much as I did. Now, as an English teacher myself, about to retire, I'd like to read them again

My mother introduced me to the Williamsburg Series when I was about 17. She had inherited the series from her mother who had bought them new from the Peoples Book Club. Now I have introduced my 17 year old daughter to the books, and she is enjoying them as much as her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. About ten years ago my mother bought the series for me and now I will buy the series for my daughter. These are great books that can be read again and again.

Dawn's Early Light was recommended to me just prior to my recent trip to Williamsburg. I had only read about 50 pages before my arrival. Once I had experienced Williamsburg and stepping into the past, I couldn't put the book down. I am now home and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next book in the series. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

I didn't particularly like to read until I read this book back in the 40s. I was in high school and the plot, the history, and characters came alive to me and opened up a wonderful world available to readers. These Williamsburg novels are delightful to every generation starting as young as 12 or 13.