The Hearth and Eagle: A Novel Kindle Edition

I first read this book many years ago , I think I was still at school. I had forgotten the details of. the story , but I remembered how much I enjoyed it .Coming to it , so many years later and understanding so much now , the pleasure has been magnified .Thank you for making this reencounter possible.

Written as a Great American Novel, this author has created an enduring historical masterpiece. The strength of the women in one family exquisitely, slowly grows and culminates in the central heroine, Hesper. The other main, timeless character is the house itself. This classic will stay with me for years.

Through the lens of the last generation of the Honeywood family living in Marblehead, Massachussetts, the reader gets treated to three centuries of family and town history. The novel starts on the night the hurricane of 1846 battered Marblehead, and follows the life of Hesper Honeywood for the following sixty-four years.Far from being a page-turner, The Hearth and Eagle is a very dense family saga with occasional historical references—impeccably researched nonetheless —that, at times, feels immensely longer than its 389 pages. It is populated by characters that feel human and authentic —with flaws and virtues, with feelings, emotions and reactions like any person.This novel excels more at the historical than at the mundane descriptions of daily living. I wished the historical passages—like the Puritans Great Migration towards the New World in 1630, the odd reference to the American Revolutionary War, and Hesper’s aid to a runaway slave by serving as a connection of the Underground Railroad—had peppered the story more evenly but those were far between, this novel being the story of a family through several generations.

Although this is not my favorite Anya Seton novel, after re-reading it a second time in 30 years, I really enjoyed it very much. It is rich history of Marblehead and told through very colorful characters who epitomize earlier times in Colonial America and the nineteenth century both. I like that it reminds anyone who descends from immigrants to the United States (as we all but Native Americans must be, regardless of how many generations back)of the hard work, disappointments, pride, perseverance and even prejudice that our families have experienced. The juxtaposition of family relationships and personalities with the community issues is interesting as well. I highly recommend this novel!

This is such a good book. I'm going to be sad when I've completed it. It's like that book you find in the summer cottage that has been there for generations waiting to be discovered by each new generation. Even though I'm reading it on Kindle it still feels like I'm holding an old beloved book.

I almost skipped over this book due to some of the less than flattering reviews. This story of ten generations in an old home begun in early America touched me deeply, especially towards the end.

Sometimes it seems that not much happens in a Set on novel but at the end of each one there is a sense of satisfaction. There is no tying everything up with a bow. Just the vagaries of life.

Even though it's not my FAVORITE Seton book, it's definitely one of my top few. If you're a Seton fan like me, you'd probably have a hard time picking your top favorite because she writes so well. But this book is Seton at her best, even though written so early in her career. The setting is New England during the formative years of our country. As is her style, she uses real, historical people in her fictional recreation of the times. Her research of history before beginning the writing process makes the prose authentic and believable. The plot revolves around a young girl whose parents own a quaint inn in a seafaring town called The Hearth and Eagle. Although the heroine strays to other locations (such as New Work City) she always returns to her roots at The Hearth and Eagle.

A great book ! I am re- discovering Anya Seton who is the Grand Dame of Historical fiction.I'd give it 5 Stars BUT:Weirdly there are many typos in this kindle addition - it's a bit poor in that regard. But getting past that this is a wonderful book.

great book Anya Seton was a great author .

Love all of Anya Seton's books and this is no exception. Collecting them all as I can read them again and again.

Old it beautifully written

No problems with delivery & book purchased. Very pleased.