I read the eighth printing of the 1929 version. Interesting history of the Northern Minnesota area. Thanks to these pioneers we have a St. Paul, MN! The author shows the dynamics and the drama between the French, the Canadians, the Indians, the soldiers, the government,the fur traders, and the missionaries.

Precious and gorgeous. Lovelace has always, it seems, nailed setting and plot and characters. I loved the DuGays and the little settlement and the snapshot into this bit of American history. I will never forgive her for skipping the romantic climax— she left out half of the proposal, the wedding, and Delia settling into the big house— but I did adore how Delia scolded and left Jasper after their winter together. I didn’t see that coming, and Mountjoy helped it along a lot too. I loved Delia’s brothers and her resourcefulness. Thanks to the internet and Mama, my copy signed!

Four stars for the Minnesota setting, which is why I read it.

Such a pure, beautiful story. Maud Hart Lovelace has a gift for painting with words. She can capture the essence of a moment with incredible simplicity and bring the reader into the world of the character with deceptively effortless prose.

I grew up reading the Betsy-Tacy books. Early Candlelight is different - it seemed to me to be a bit more focused on the actual historical events surrounding Fort Snelling. I had trouble getting into the book at first and was confused by the many characters, but it was totally worth trudging through a few chapters to get to the good stuff!

It's a sweet, interesting story. By the time I was halfway through, I couldn't put it down! 10/10 recommend!

I do agree that this started slowly, and it took me a bit of time to figure out who the important characters were going to be. Once it got going, though, I did enjoy it quite a lot. I came to like the character of Delia very much and I thought MHL was able, by the end of the book, to really get inside her and describe her emotions very well. Some of the other characters were less well developed and I have to say that I didn't find Jasper Page all that wonderful, but at least he appreciated Delia :-)

I also loved Maud's descriptions of the landscape and the changing seasons. Some of her similes (she did like to toss those in!) were lovely.

It was also an interesting look at the early settling of Minnesota--it was a part of history that I didn't know much about. Of course, as the introduction (which is very good) points out, its depiction of the native peoples would be considered quite one-sided and almost offensive today--"squaws," childlike "Indians," etc. But that's a reaction based on what we've learned between Maud's time and our own. If anything, it makes me want to go on to read more about the interactions between the Native Americans and the settlers to get a more accurate perspective.

Sweet novel about Indians and settlers in 1830's Minnesota. Because I love this author's later Betsy-Tacy books, it was fun to see her early attempts at writing. But I probably wouldn't have read it (or stuck with it) otherwise.

This is one of my favorite books ever. It would make a great movie: visually stunning scenery, many attractive young men and young women in love and a female protaganist an audience can't help but adore. It is "Pride and Prejudice" meets "Last of the Mohicans" with enough rich historical details woven into it to make you feel like your are really learning something. I also love this book because it is written by one of my favorite authors, Maude Hart Lovelace. This book made me proud of my American heritage and the work I do as a woman.

My adoration of Maud Hart Lovelace began late in life…as in a year ago when I discovered her juvenile writings (The Betsy-Tacy Series) through numerous book blogs. Our mother daughter book club devoured her first four books in rapid fashion.
After such an introduction, I’ve been eager to explore her other writings. Before Christmas I purchased her recently re-released copies of Carney’s House Party and Winona’s Pony Cart, Emily of Deep Valley, and Early Candlelight.
I’ve been keen on reading nostalgic old fashioned books as of late, so I picked up Early Candlelight last week.
Ms. Lovelace explores life on the Minnesota frontier at the turn of the 19th century. Her characters range from those families who reside within the walls of Fort Snelling, fur traders, local Indian tribes, Canadian settlers and voyageurs.
Deedee Dugay’s French descent family lives on the surrounding lands of Fort Snelling. A large, boisterous family, Deedee is the only girl in the company of many brothers. They have a harmonious relationship with the Indian tribes and with all their neighbors. The only ones they come into conflict with are the military leaders at the Fort who feel their trading of alcohol with the local tribes is creating tension that could escalate to violence, so they force her family to relocate, thus disturbing their family harmony.
Jasper Page is a well respected fur trader, who lives elegantly among the locals and enlists the Dugay sons to be a part of his many expeditions. Thus, Deedee becomes acquainted with Monsieur Page, and develops a lifelong love of him, in spite of his elite social class.
Ms. Lovelace develops a tremendous story of these frontiersmen and women. Her descriptions of Fort life– the parties they planned at the arrival of steamboats and the clothing that they wore – were amazing. Her attention to detail when describing the fashions of the time made me wonder if she had dreams of becoming a clothes designer in addition to a writer!
As she developed the relationship between Deedee and Mr. Page, I was ready to anoint this book the truly American Pride and Prejudice: strong willed, lower class beauty, falls for esteemed handsome gentleman landowner. Their word play and interaction was enticing and longing. Would they or wouldn’t they end up together.
Then, just when I thought Ms. Lovelace’s story telling couldn’t exceed itself – she ended the story. Flatly. Disappointingly.
So, I loved her writing – I loved the story – I loved the characters that she created – I loved her meticulous descriptions into early Minnesota frontier life – I just was so let down by the ending.
I’m still a huge fan, and can’t wait to read the other books I have, I just wish this one would have met my expectations.

I don't believe Maud Hart Lovelace's Early Candlelight could be published today. It was better than her first book, but not as good as the books she later wrote for children. The story was good, even if a bit confusing, and I found myself relating to a major character. I had to go back and reread the first chapter when I was about haIf way through the book to clarify who some others were. I was bothered by all the warpaint and "braves" and "squaws" language. I'm sure she didn't intend to sound racist, but that kind of language helps explain why nobody reads the book anymore. I think all the geographical references would make more sense to someone who lives in Minnesota. I don't like to have my reading interrupted by frequent trips to the map to understand what's going on in the story. The book itself would hold more appeal for someone who lives (or used to live) in Minnesota. I did recognize the locale of one critical scene as the place where the author's beloved home town would eventually be built, but that was only because I had visited it a month before for a convention of M.H.L. aficionados, which is where, as it happens, I learned of the existence of this book.

Srsly it's like if Betsy were a Pioneer girl, canoeing supplies back and forth between the armies at Fort Snelling and the native American communities down the river. Also falling in love with the wild benefactor and socialite who came to support and invest in his Minnehaha land.

This was a clever story, set against the backdrop of 1830s Minnesota. I enjoyed the story, the flowery prose was a bit hard to follow at times.

It started slowly, but about 1/3 into the book, I didn't want to put it down. Young Deedee DuGay is smitten with Jasper Page who is impossibly older even if he wasn't a social notch or three above her.