Mary's Land [Mass Market Paperback]

Lucia St Clair Robson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996

"POWERFUL AND INSPIRING . . . [A] SUPERB NOVEL . . . The historical detail . . . is outstanding."
--Rendezvous
As the ship Charity sails from England across the Atlantic, two vastly different yet equally courageous women make the perilous journey. Strong-willed, upper class Margaret Brent has invested in Lord Baltimore's Maryland plantation because the new colony is her single chance for a home of her own. Anicah is a teenage guttersnipe who lives by her wits and quick tongue. Kidnapped off the streets of Bristol, she is transported to the New World as an indentured servant. But for both women, the future will bring love and rewards they never imagined. . . .
A truly American novel of passion, dreams, and courage, MARYS LAND tells the story of two women who build a new life in a verdant country that is strange and threatening, yet gloriously sweet with promise.
"Meticulously researched . . . [Robson] has an eye for the details of everyday life and an ear for the rich and earthy language of the period.--Library Journal
An Alternate Selection of the Literary Guild(c)
and the Doubleday Book Club(c)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in the "wild country" colony of Maryland in the mid-17th century, Robson's (Light a Distant Fire) languidly paced novel brims with authentic detail and dialect but, because of a tepid plot, fails to bring this historical period to full life. In 1638, Anicah Sparrow, a tough-talking 13-year-old pickpocket, is kidnapped in Bristol, England, and held inside the rat-infested bowels of a ship bound for Mary's Land, where she'll be sold as an indentured servant to the highest bidder. Several decks above is Margaret Brent, a 37-year-old descendant of English nobility who, along with her devout sister and brother, is being smuggled out of England to avoid persecution for illegally practicing Catholicism. Arriving in the New World, Anicah is sold to Samuel Smythe, a local tavern owner, but manages to steal away for romantic trysts with Martin, another indentured servant. Meanwhile, Margaret, who had purchased property in the new colony in exchange for transporting laborers from England, and who despaired upon first viewing the desolate land, begins building her new manor and planting tobacco and other crops. Robson diligently chronicles the struggles facing the new settlers and the ongoing battles over religious freedom, but few of her characters, including real-life historical personages like Margaret, inspire more than ordinary interest. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternate selections.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In 1638, Margaret Brent, an upper-class Catholic, sets out for Lord Baltimore's new colony in search of personal and religious freedom. On the same ship is Anicah Sparrow, an orphan who has been kidnapped to serve as an indentured servant in the colony. The reality of their new home is much harsher than expected, but Anicah finds love and a better life. Ultimately, Margaret moves on in her search for freedom. Maryland native Robson has meticulously researched her work, using a mix of real and fictional characters. As author of several historical novels, including The Tokaido Road (LJ 2/15/91), she has an eye for the details of everyday life and an ear for the rich and earthy language of the period. Her novel will do well in most historical fiction collections. [Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates.]-Barbara E. Kemp, SUNY at Alban.
--Barbara E. Kemp, SUNY at Albany
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 10 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345406281
• ISBN-13: 978-0345406286
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,542,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Along with my library degree I learned one of life's great truths: you don't have to know all the answers, you just have to know where to find them. As a public librarian in Maryland I gave book-related programs in the local schools. While gathering material for the talks, I ran across the story of Cynthia Ann Parker's life with the Comanches. I told the kids that this was a more fascinating story than anyone could make up.

Shortly after that I went to a science fiction convention and met Brian Daley, author of the Han Solo books. I mentioned Cynthia Ann's story to Brian and his editor who referred me to Pamela Strickler of Ballantine Books. She advised me to, "Write the best story you can, from the heart, to please yourself." In 1982, Ballantine published Ride the Wind, which made the New York Times best sellers list. It also won the Western Writers of America's Spur Award for Best Historical Novel of the year. Now in its 27th printing, WIND was included in the top 100 westerns of the 20th century, and has garnered more than 100 5-star reviews in Amazon.

I've written eight other historical novels that feature people and times seldom mentioned in history texts. I got a kick out of Kirkus Reviews' take on my characters, "...Robson's phosphorescently magnificent gallery of forgotten women whom she's dug up God knows where."

In order of their appearance, the titles are: RIDE THE WIND, WALK IN MY SOUL, LIGHT A DISTANT FIRE, TOKAIDO ROAD, MARY'S LAND, FEARLESS, GHOST WARRIOR, SHADOW PATRIOTS, and LAST TRAIN FROM CUERNAVACA. In June of 2011 Western Writers of America awarded LAST TRAIN FROM CUERNAVACA their Spur award for best long novel of 2010.

A historical novelist must do more than list which generals fought where and when. She tries to re-create the society in which people lived, and she has to make it so vivid that readers can feel as though they're living there too.

I no longer collect a paycheck as a librarian, but my library training helps me find out what people wore, what jokes they told, how they insulted each other, what they ate, how they amused themselves, what diseases laid them low and how they tried to cure them.

As a writer of historical fiction, it's my job to create a plausible reality in a time long gone. A descendant of one of my characters once asked me where I got the stories I told in my book about her family. I told her I had either read them or made them up. She said I couldn't have because those were stories only the family knew. I blamed it on coincidence, but sometimes I do believe that novelists can "predict" the past.

I worry about being mis-marketed as a romance writer. I wonder if those who want happily-ever-after stories will be put off by the grit and gore in mine. I fear that readers who're looking for historical fiction won't pick the books up. Love is a vital part of every period of history and I always include it in my stories. However, it is not the focus.

When I became a librarian in 1975 I could not have imagined I would write even one npovel, much less nine. The internet did not exist then, so I could not have known that one day people from all over the world would get in touch with me. My job is to re-create how other people lived, and yet I could not have imagined the way my own life would unfold. I find it hard to believe that the three following quotes are about my words.

Historian and novelist thomas Fleming wrote about Last Train from Cuernavaca: "A gripping story that takes us deep into the tumultuous years of Mexican history. We need more books like this."

"Shadow Patriots, a Novel of the Revolution" -- From Kirkus Reviews "Few novelists working now have a better grasp of early American history than Robson ...Wholly believable, confidently realized, attention-holding historical fiction."

In 2011 True West Magazine named me Best Living Fiction Writer- "With her greatest achievement to date, 2010's Last Train from Cuernavaca... Lucia St. Clair Robson once again proves a master in prose, descriuption, character development and authenticity via her diligent research. Look for more from this powerful writer."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Louisa does it again!!!, January 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mary's Land (Mass Market Paperback)

I am an avid reader of historical biographies both fictional and non fictional. I found this book to be a treasure trove of information and details of live in a very young America. If you want to get a feel for the type of people that started this country this is a must read book. I highly recomend.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy to see this classic back in print, December 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mary's Land (Paperback)

"Mary's Land" is a colorful and detailed novel of a time at the beginning of Europeans' migration to the New World. Robson's novel puts the reader into the thick of the action from the long journey on a small ship to the taming of the frontier. The characters are people you care about. You cheer them on when they find success and cry for them when they don't. Wonderful to see it back in print.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History becomes alive, July 6, 2002

By 

Bill R. Chitwood "Billy Ray Chitwood" (Lukeville, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary's Land (Mass Market Paperback)

Mary's Land brings the old pages of history to life and makes the people live and breathe - Another of Lucia St. Clair Robson's "can't put down books" - and as soon as I've finished I want more - her facts are always correct and she has a wonderful feel for putting them into words that create pictures in the soul.