With the outbreak of the American Revolution, Abigail Lovell's family is torn apart--while her schoolmaster father is an outspoken loyalist and prominent figurehead in the community, she and her two brothers engage in acts of espionage to undermine the British forces in Boston. Her sickly older brother, James, operates the patriots' spy ring while Abigail acts as a courier, eluding increasingly aggressive British patrols.
Meanwhile, her younger brother, Benjamin, slips out of Boston to fight alongside Abigail's love, Ezra, in the battles at Lexington and Concord. With the help of her friend, Rachel Revere, Abigail smuggles money and supplies out to Benjamin, Ezra, and other revolutionaries. But when a British sergeant is found murdered, Abigail stands accused, and she now must fight to save herself and those she loves. In the tradition of Sally Gunning's Bound and Diana Gabaldon's An Echo in the Bone, The Schoolmaster's Daughter is the story of a family torn asunder--and of a determined young woman who must make courageous decisions if she is to aid in liberating her country.
About the Author :
John Smolens was educated at Boston College, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Iowa. He taught at Michigan State University, and is currently teaching in the Master of Fine Arts program at Northern Michigan University, where he has been the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award. In 2010 he received the Michigan Author of the Year Award from The Michigan Library Association.
Elisabeth Rodgers is an actress and AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator. After graduating from Princeton University, she completed a two-year program at William Esper Studio, where she studied with Maggie Flanigan. Her audiobook narration training came from Robin Miles, who has also directed her in several productions. She has recorded dozens of books for a multitude of publishers.
Review :
"A fine writer with a profound knowledge of human behavior gone awry."
-- "Jim Harrison, New York Times bestselling author"
"A young woman juggles family issues, romance and patriotism in the early days of the American Revolution...Smolens admirably spotlights women in the revolution."
-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"Boston smolders on the eve of the American Revolution in Smolens' ambitious blend of fiction, history, battlefield romance, and intrigue...Smolens imagines the betrayals, espionage, and collaborations, personal and strategic alliances, and the frequent crossing of lines (not just physical) between the occupying British and the Bostonians they want to control."
-- "Publishers Weekly"
"John Smolens has written a historical novel with the quick-beating heart of a thriller. Written in crisp, cinematic prose, the novel has echoes of the best noir."
-- "Dan Chaon, New York Times bestselling author"
"Smolens has written an intelligent, first-rate thriller, as though Sinclair Lewis was fused with Alan Furst."
-- "Tom Bissell, award-winning author of The Father of All Things"
