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Probably her most critically acclaimed book.
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Early Candlelight
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This historical novel set at Old Fort Snelling in the 1830s is a rich and romantic re-creation of the early settlement period in Minnesota's history. Maud Hart Lovelace's careful research into the documents of the Minnesota Historical Society, combined with her knowledge of the actual setting, enabled her to write a story that conveys a sense of time and place both accurate and compelling for young adults as well as general readers.
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1,1929
This edition
- Format
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342 pages, Paperback
- Published
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August 15, 1992 by Minnesota Historical Society Press
- ISBN
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9780873512695
- ASIN
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0873512693
- Language
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English
About the author
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Maud Hart Lovelace was born on April 25, 1892, in Mankato, Minnesota. She was the middle of three children born to Thomas and Stella (Palmer) Hart. Her sister, Kathleen, was three years older, and her other sister, Helen, was six years younger. “That dear family" was the model for the fictional Ray family.
Maud's birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankato's center business district. The street, Center Street, dead-ended at one of the town's many hills. When Maud was a few months old, the Hart family moved two blocks up the street to 333 Center.
Shortly before Maud's fifth birthday a “large merry Irish family" moved into the house directly across the street. Among its many children was a girl Maud's age, Frances, nicknamed Bick, who was to be Maud's best friend and the model for Tacy Kelly.
Tib's character was based on another playmate, Marjorie (Midge) Gerlach, who lived nearby in a large house designed by her architect father. Maud, Bick, and Midge became lifelong friends. Maud once stated that the three couldn't have been closer if they'd been sisters.
Maud's birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankato's center business district. The street, Center Street, dead-ended at one of the town's many hills. When Maud was a few months old, the Hart family moved two blocks up the street to 333 Center.
Shortly before Maud's fifth birthday a “large merry Irish family" moved into the house directly across the street. Among its many children was a girl Maud's age, Frances, nicknamed Bick, who was to be Maud's best friend and the model for Tacy Kelly.
Tib's character was based on another playmate, Marjorie (Midge) Gerlach, who lived nearby in a large house designed by her architect father. Maud, Bick, and Midge became lifelong friends. Maud once stated that the three couldn't have been closer if they'd been sisters.
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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 42 votes)
5 stars
15(36%)
4 stars
8(19%)
3 stars
19(45%)
2 stars
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42 reviews All reviews
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Loved this book! Historical fiction set in and around Minnesota's Fort Snelling in the 1820s. Lively characters, compelling storylines, history worked in without beating the reader over the head, and a satisfying romance. Works for me.
I've been rereading Lovelace's children's books (also 5-star caliber), prior to visiting MN, so I'm delighted and not surprised to discover she can spin a wonderful adult novel as well.
If you liked Mrs. Mike, you'll probably enjoy Early Candlelight!
(Note: if you have uber-sensitive political-correctness antennae, you better deduct a star right off the top.)
I've been rereading Lovelace's children's books (also 5-star caliber), prior to visiting MN, so I'm delighted and not surprised to discover she can spin a wonderful adult novel as well.
If you liked Mrs. Mike, you'll probably enjoy Early Candlelight!
(Note: if you have uber-sensitive political-correctness antennae, you better deduct a star right off the top.)
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It helps to know a little early Minnesota History before tackling this romance/historical fiction, but even this knowledge is not enough to make Early Candlelight enjoyable. Written in the 1920’s about the 1830’s, it is hard to read in 2018 without cringing at the racism and sexism. Granted, Lovelace draws on first person sources and describes real historical figures, but it doesn’t feel realistic an any meaningful way. Time would be better spent reading the author’s Betsy-Tacy series.
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This one made me miss Minnesota. A very different feel from her Betsy-Tacy books, but Maud Hart Lovelace gives a great picture of life near Fort Snelling in the 1830s. Her description of the landscape and way of life is wonderful and, as always, I enjoy her gentle story telling based on historical events.
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I read this 4 or 5 years ago, and I'm now re-reading it for the Group Read on Maud-L.
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I didn't find the author of the Betsy-Tacy books here except for occasional glimpses in descriptive passages. The writing was choppy and difficult to read, as if she was trying to hard to impress the reader with her skill as a writer. I struggled to follow her and if it was any other author but MHL I would not have bothered to finish the book. The character names were atrocious and I grudgingly accept it's because they are real names, but it made it awkward. Names like those take more than a few days to become natural sounding. 2+ stars.
When I finished I was glad I read it. It had a satisfactory, if not predictable ending but unfortunately by then I didn't like the hero!
When I finished I was glad I read it. It had a satisfactory, if not predictable ending but unfortunately by then I didn't like the hero!
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This is one where I really wish we could do half stars, as I'd have preferred to give it 3.5. Once I got about 25 pages into the book, it really took off for me, and I was very much drawn in. It especially grabbed me as we headed to the end of Book I and into Book II. But then... then came the ending, and I found it just anticlimactic. SPOILER ALERT!! I think I read in someone else's review [Melissa's, perhaps?:] that we didn't NEED to see how the relationship betw Jasper Page and Dee actually came to that moment where they knew they would be together, or else that we didn't need to see the actual wedding. Well, for me, I'm afraid I did need to see it. At least a LITTLE of it anyway. For me, it was a let-down, not getting that reward at the end. Well-written in most spots... moments of Betsy-Tacy turn-of-phrases occasionally, to make me smile... ultimately not quite up to her Betsy-Tacy standard, though.
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This is a completely different story from Lovelace's usual offerings. It's historical fiction set at Old Fort Snelling in Minnesota in the 1830s. Originally written in 1929, the feel is different from modern day hist. fict. - a bit more romantic and innocent perhaps. But it is a vivid and compelling portrayal of life on the river - French fur traders, Native Americans, danger and uncertainty in a beautiful, wild, land. I recommend it to anyone interested in this time period in the United States.
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