On Hope Leslie

First of all, I have to say that I’m so happy that I discovered this book. I love it immensely and was gripped the entire time. Why are students still reading The Last of the Mohicans when they can be reading Hope Leslie, written only a year later and dealing with some of the same themes.

This is a really transgressive book. At times, it turns the “white savior” narrative on its head, requiring the salvation of white people from Native Americans. It depicts a mixed-race couple, Native Man-White Woman, rather than the much more widespread White Man-Native Woman (although does not necessarily endorse it). The main character is a really strong, witty woman. Close friendships arise between whites and Native Americans. It’s important to remember that this book was published just before Indian Removal—making the topics here hotly political.

Moreover, Sedgwick had me laughing out loud at times.

Spoiler

When Hope goes to bust Magawsica out of prison, her tutor, Mr. Craddock, implores her to change her mind because she is committing a sin (although one he is willing to acquiesce to for Hope’s sake). Earlier in the book, Hope may have said something like, “yes you’re right Mr. Craddock, I’m sorry.” But no, Hope’s character doesn’t give a damn about Heaven or Hell so long as she can protect those important to her.

Moreover, Sedgwick absolutely despises her own character of Jennet.

Spoiler

At every moment of secrecy, Jennet walks in howling like a wolf, but Sedgwick ends the climax with her fiery death in an explosion at sea while Jennet doesn’t even have any idea what is happening around her.

God bless, absolutely incredible.

My primary reservation is with the end of the story. For all of Sedgwick’s respect for her Native American characters and transgressions of established norms, she reneges on them in the last few chapters.

Spoiler

Esther, who was engaged to marry Everell, renounces the engagement so that Hope can have him—even though she would do just as well with their sibling-esque relationship. Perhaps more insidiously, Magawisca and Faith (Hope’s sister, who is married to the Pequot Oneco) return to their people, likely never to return to Boston. While we can celebrate Faith’s choice to cross boundaries here, Sedgwick’s ending acquiesces to segregationism in white-Native affairs.

Ultimately, the book transforms from something progressive into something content with conservatism. I would have liked to see Sedgwick move past this, but I’m not sure if the book could have seen publication had she done so.

Nevertheless, this is probably my favorite of any early American novel to date and I wish it was more widely recognized.