Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles: "Flight of the Sparrow" by Amy Belding Brown

Early Life and Education

• 1940s-1950s: Amy Belding Brown was born and grew up in Vermont, where she developed an interest in history and literature.

Career and Publications

• 2000: Amy Belding Brown published her first novel, Mr. Emerson's Wife, a historical fiction book that imagines the inner life of Lidian Jackson Emerson, the wife of transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. The book explores themes of women's roles in the 19th century and the conflicts between personal desires and social expectations.
• 2014: She published Flight of the Sparrow, a historical novel based on the real-life story of Mary Rowlandson, a colonial woman captured during King Philip's War. The novel delves into the cultural clashes and personal transformations that occurred during this period, reflecting Brown's interest in early American history.

Later Work

• 2021: Amy Belding Brown released Glory Over Everything, continuing her exploration of historical fiction set in New England. This work, like her previous novels, combines extensive historical research with a focus on women's lives and experiences.

Themes and Contributions

Amy Belding Brown's novels often revolve around historical events, especially in early New England, and feature strong female protagonists. Her writing provides insights into the lives of women who lived through significant historical moments, offering readers a perspective on the cultural and social dynamics of the past.

Her career as a historical novelist has been marked by a dedication to bringing lesser-known women's stories to light, often drawing on meticulous research to recreate the atmosphere and struggles of the times she writes about.

Pre-1676 Context

• 1628-1630: The Massachusetts Bay Colony was established by English Puritans led by John Winthrop. They aimed to create a society based on their religious ideals.
• 1636-1638: The Pequot War, the first significant conflict between Native Americans and English settlers, took place, setting a precedent for future conflicts in New England.

1675

• June 1675: King Philip's War began. The war was named after Metacom, a Wampanoag leader known to the English as "King Philip." It was a response to increasing tensions between Native American tribes and English settlers over land disputes and cultural differences.

1676

• February 1676: Native American forces attacked Lancaster, Massachusetts, resulting in significant devastation and the capture of several settlers, including Mary Rowlandson, who later wrote a famous captivity narrative.
• March 1676: The Battle of Northampton took place, where English forces clashed with Native American fighters, part of ongoing skirmishes throughout New England.
• April 1676: The Great Swamp Fight occurred as part of the ongoing conflict. English forces attacked a Narragansett stronghold, inflicting heavy casualties and weakening the tribe's ability to continue resistance.
• May 1676: The tide began to turn in favor of the English as they gained more support from various Native American groups who had allied with the English, including the Mohegan and Pequot tribes.
• August 1676: King Philip (Metacom) was killed in a final battle near Mount Hope in present-day Rhode Island. His death marked the effective end of King Philip's War.

Post-1676 Consequences

• Late 1676: The war officially ended, with devastating consequences for Native American tribes in New England. Many Native Americans were killed, captured, or sold into slavery. The war also left the Massachusetts Bay Colony deeply in debt.
• 1677 and Beyond: The colony focused on rebuilding and further expansion. Tensions with Native American groups persisted but at a much-diminished level, as English settlers continued to encroach on traditional Native lands.

King Philip's War was one of the most devastating conflicts in New England during the colonial period, significantly altering the balance of power in favor of English settlers.