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Deep Summer

Book 1 in the series:Plantation

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'Deep Summer' by Gwen Bristow is a historical fiction novel set in the Deep South of America, showcasing plantation life during the 18th century. The book follows the life of Judith Sheramy, a young girl who elopes with Philip Larne, an aristocratic man, to the raw and rough Delta country. The storyline chronicles their journey through love, poverty, riches, betrayal, forgiveness, and old age, while also delving into historical events like the Louisiana Purchase. The author, Gwen Bristow, brings to life the early pioneers' struggles in Louisiana and provides a panoramic view of the French, Spanish, and American influences in the region.

The narrative of 'Deep Summer' is richly detailed, filled with historical facts about Louisiana, including aspects like slave ownership, cultural beliefs, and political climates of the United States. The book is praised for its engaging storytelling that captures the essence of the South across centuries, offering an illuminating and unsentimental portrayal of the era. Readers appreciate the well-rounded characters, intricate plot development, and the historical accuracy maintained throughout the novel.

Characters:

Characters are portrayed with depth, although criticisms exist regarding the development of minority characters.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is detailed and engaging, with a strong sense of period-appropriate language and varied character viewpoints.

Plot/Storyline:

The story unfolds over generations, tracing personal and historical developments in the lives of the characters, particularly focusing on Judith Sheramy.

Setting:

The setting vividly illustrates the complexities of life in Louisiana, emphasizing its historical and cultural evolution.

Pacing:

The pacing incorporates detailed historical context, which may slow the story but enriches the reader's experience.
While the men tied up the flatboat Judith leaned over the side washing some kerchiefs and a pair of her father’s nankeen breeches. It was hard to get clothes clean in the river. No matter how hard one...

Notes:

Gwen Bristow's 'Deep Summer' was first published in 1937.
The novel is part of a trilogy called the Plantation Trilogy.
The story is set in historical Louisiana and spans multiple generations.
It explores various themes including love, poverty, betrayal, and early American history.
The narrative provides insight into plantation life and the historical context of slavery in the Deep South.
Bristow crafts multi-dimensional characters, each with their own unique stories.
The book addresses complex cultural and political issues present during the time period.
The author is praised for her use of authentic dialects and diction appropriate for the setting.
Some readers find the treatment of slavery in the book to be offensive and lacking depth.
The main character, Judith, elopes at a young age, defying her family's expectations.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book features high content warnings due to its portrayal of slavery, racial slurs, and potentially offensive characterizations of historical figures.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in Deep Summer, primarily revolving around the relationship between the main characters, Judith and Philip, which serves to advance the plot.

From The Publisher:

The New York Times-bestselling author of Jubilee Trail does "a grand job of storytelling" in this saga of pioneers who settled the Louisiana wilderness (The New York Times).

For his service in the king's army during the French and Indian War, Judith Sheramy's father, a Puritan New Englander, is granted a parcel of land in far-off Louisiana. As the family ventures down the Mississippi to make a new home in the wilderness, Judith meets Philip Larne, an adventurer who travels in the finest clothes Judith has ever seen. He is a rogue, a killer, and a thief-and the first thing he steals is Judith's heart.

Three thousand acres of untamed jungle, populated by native tribes and overrun with jaguars and pirates, await Philip in Louisiana. He and Judith will struggle through their stormy marriage and the challenges of the American Revolution as they strive to build an empire for future generations.

This is the first novel in Gwen Bristow's Plantation Trilogy, which also includes The Handsome Road and This Side of Glory.

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About the Author:

Gwen Bristow (1903-1980), the author of seven bestselling historical novels that bring to life momentous events in American history, such as the siege of Charleston during the American Revolution (Celia Garth) and the great California gold rush (Calico Palace), was born in South Carolina, where the Bristow family had settled in the seventeenth century. After graduating from Judson College in Alabama and attending the Columbia School of Journalism, Bristow worked as a reporter for New Orleans' Times-Picayune from 1925 to 1934. Through her husband, screenwriter Bruce Manning, she developed an interest in longer forms of writing-novels and screenplays. After Bristow moved to Hollywood, her literary career took off with the publication of Deep Summer, the first novel in a trilogy of Louisiana-set historical novels, which also includes The Handsome Road and This Side of Glory. Bristow continued to write about the American South and explored the settling of the American West in her bestselling novels Jubilee Trail, which was made into a film in 1954, and in her only work of nonfiction, Golden Dreams. Her novel Tomorrow Is Forever also became a film, starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles, and Natalie Wood, in 1946.

 
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