The
Secret Life of Lucy Bosman
By Rebekah Pierce
Publisher: The Pierce Agency
Published: Dec. 16, 2014
ASIN: B00R58NPDE
Amazon Synopsis:
Lucy Bosman is a shrewd business woman in a day and time not
too amenable to the dreams and desires of women - especially colored women. The
widow of an ex-slave and well-educated, the mulatto woman had great plans to
start over and make a life for herself when she left her hometown of Nashville,
Tennessee and headed further South in the spring of 1860. Two years later, Lucy
is planted firmly in Richmond, Virginia, running a successful business while
passing as a white woman and avoiding the personal attentions and promises of
love by plantation owner, Thomas Parker. She has managed to keep her identity a
secret from the town and Thomas, but the looming Civil War threatens to change
everything. In The Secret Life of Lucy Bosman, nothing is safe from the
destruction of war and secrets. Not even the dreams and heart of a single
mulatto woman.
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My Thoughts:
Lucy
Bosman is a mulatto woman who poses as a white woman in the 1860s just before
the Civil War. Her husband died fighting for the freedom of the blacks. They
were given their freedom papers by his father the plantation owner in
Tennessee. Lucy made her way to Richmond where her husband Charles had bequeathed
her a piece of property.
Lucy
decided to pass herself off as a white woman and become a business woman in the
city. This was a dangerous thing to do at this time as it was difficult to be a
woman in the first place; to be a black woman was even more difficult.To be
caught as a black woman posing as a white woman would mean death.
Lucy
had to be careful of her every move because she was a slave before and had all
the mannerisms of a slave now. She had to change those mannerisms to blend in
as a white woman. No longer could she look down when being spoken to by another
white woman. She had to look them in the eye. She had to fool both black and
white because even the blacks would turn her in for the reward they would
receive for turning in a runaway slave. Even though she was actually a free
woman, it was not unknown of for free blacks to be carted back by slavers as
runaways.
This
historical novel takes us through the Civil War era and into the emancipation
that President Lincoln brought the country. It was a fascinating look at what
life was like for free black people and for a black person trying to pass themselves
off as a white person. Skin colour really didn't mean that much, as long as you
had some black ancestry in your family history you were considered black. You
could be as white looking as any other white person and you would still be
considered black, and therefore a slave.
I
really enjoyed seeing the romance parts between the various other black and
white characters and the difficulties that they faced. I empathized with Lucy
as she felt that she could never marry again because otherwise she would lose
her independence over her financial situation since women had to hand everything they owned over
to their husbands.
The
pacing of the book was excellent and the material was well researched. All the
referencing is noted at the back of the book.
For
anyone who likes historical novels or who enjoys reading about black history
this book would be a great one to add to your collection. I would recommend that
you read it. I gave it four stars out of five.
Thank
you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for fair and
honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
About
the Author
I
have been writing and teaching English literature for over thirteen years. I
have always loved mystery novels which featured protagonists who had their own
demons to fight as they saved the day, so to speak. Murder on Second Street: The
Jackson Ward Murders is a blend of history and fiction. The plot is set
during a very pivotal time in American history: 30 days before the infamous
Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929.
Over
the years, I've also written and directed several award winning full-length and
short plays several of which have been performed on Off-Broadway. I've been a
member of several local writers' groups for both fiction and drama where my work
has been widely received and supported.
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