The Rebellion of Jane Clarke: A Novel

Sally Cabot Gunning

May 2010 · Harper Collins

About this ebook

After refusing an arranged marriage, a young woman is thrust into a world of intrigue and danger in prerevolutionary Boston in this historical novel.

Jane Clarke leads a simple yet rich life in the village of Satucket on Cape Cod—until her refusal to marry the man her father has picked out as his son-in-law causes irreparable tear in the family fabric. Banished to Boston to make her living as best she can, Jane enters a strange, bustling city awash with redcoats and rebellious fervor. And soon her new life is complicated by her growing attachment to her frail aunt, her friendship with the bookseller Henry Knox, and the unexpected kindness of British soldiers, which pits her against the townspeople and her own brother, Nate, a law clerk working for John Adams. But it is the infamous Boston Massacre—the killing of five colonists by British soldiers on a cold March evening in 1770—that forces Jane to question accepted truths as she confronts the most difficult choice of her life.

Sally Gunning’s The Rebellion of Jane Clarke is an unforgettable story of one woman’s struggle to find her own place and leave her mark as a new country is born.

Praise for The Rebellion of Jane Clarke

“Blazing . . . There’s a history textbook’s worth of well-done cameos, but it’s Gunning’s fluid writing and attention to the larger issues of human nature that really make this move. Good historical fiction offers new perspectives on old stories. This book succeeds handily at the task.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This well-researched and lively novel captures the mood of those turbulent [prerevolutionary] times.” —Library Journal

Ratings and reviews

This is an engaging coming of age story set in the pre revolutionary war period, a time in our country’s history marked by turmoil and conflict. Sally Gunning weaves some great period detail as she sheds light on what life was like for young women of marrying age during this time and provides great insight into the political unrest of the colonists. Jane, much like her budding country, is conflicted as she struggles to define herself. The heart of the book is the endearing voice of Jane as she weights the pro and cons of her decisions. As she grows her personality blossoms and although she is a soft presence, she is strong and nicely carries the book. The other strength of the book is the elegant writing style of this author, which perfectly complements the cast of characters and the setting. The overall pace of the book is slow but does hold your interest except mid way through where the plot stalls a bit. Stick with it though, it does pick up again. I recommend this book to those who like historical fiction or interesting stories with lasting memorable characters and beautiful prosaic writing.

About the author

Sally Cabot Gunning lives in Brewster, Massachusetts, with her husband, Tom. A lifelong resident of New England, she is active in local historical organizations and creates tours that showcase the three-hundred-year history of her village. She is the author of three “Satucket novels” (The Widow’s War, Bound, and The Rebellion of Jane Clarke), as well as the historical novels Benjamin Franklin’s Bastard and Monticello.