Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-11
A NEW VERMONT NOVEL.
"lfester ~ the Granta"--A R0mance Of
Old Benmineton ~ Theodore Peck.
New York; Fog, Duffie1d 4
Co., 1905, PIP. 41e.


Co., 1905, PIP. 41e.
The appearance Of new Vermont
novel, by n Vermont author, who, known
heretofore to the reading public only rs
la writer Of one or two poems for public
occasions, now produces her maiden ef-
fort in the field Of historical romance.
Ia an interesting and notable event. 1.-THE
Grants" in the title. is of course the
New Hampshire Grants-the early name
Of what is now Vcrmont-and the scenes
of the story open in the dark and
troublous time when the Green Mountain
Boys, not yet admitted to the Union.
were defending their own territory and
the frontier of the young United states
from Burgoyncs invasion. 1t was IL time
of divided allegiance. like that which
later, Mt the outbreak of our Civil War.
divided families and distracted hearts
when, while most of the settlers in the
Grants gave eager support to the cause
of American liberty. a portion of them
retained their old allegiance to the Brit
sh crown, mt tho cost of the confscation
of their farms with the proceeds of the
sales of which the Green Mountain lead
ers armed their troops. The spirit of this
time has been admirably caught by Miss
Peck. and her romance will give its read
crs II fresh and vivid idea of the pcrls,
the cXcitcmcnts and the events OF the
time.
The heroine Of tho story, Hester, is
the daughter of a royalist, while her
favored lover is II patriot scout; and her
sympathies and prayers are for the sue
cess of the Revolutionary cause. though
it tears her heart to side against her
parent Among the prominent charac-
tcrs are Ethan and Ira Allen, Seth War
nor. stephen Fay. Thomas Chittenden
and other leaders of the Green Mountain
Boys: enough of them to sustain the his
torical interest and value of the story.
while tho romance of the tale is for the
most part supplied by the we'll drawn
characters of Nathan Bennett, Mark FL
| lis. Neil Barton and Cochisc. half
| breed Indian. who cherishcs secret love
| for Hester and appears ut critical periods
to save her from capture, defend her at
the risk Of his life and serve as her mes
songer and guardian angel.
For the plot of the novel, we must refer
our readers to the pages of the volume.
Enough to say that it has the proper
modicum of love, passion. incident,
| trcachery, rivalry and other elements of
a genuine romance. and that it is sure
to hold tho strong interest of the reader
| from the opening chapter to close. There
are beautiful descriptions of Vermont
scenery. and the chapter devoted to the
Battle of Bennington is a remarkably
graphic picture of that decisive battle
into which the author has woven the his
toric Incidents of the struggle and the
recorded words of the fighters
| AS the first effort at sustained fiction
Of young Vermont girl chester of the
Grants is certainly a remarkable and
most credtablc production. 1t is in our
| Judgment, not saying too much to say
that it is. worthy to be placed in the class
with d. + Thompson's "Green Mountain
Boys" of which various editions have
been printed and which still sells as a
Vermont classic For US. at least, 1t OK
cceds in interest and value some of the
much Ovcr-praiscd novels OF the day.
of the when Knighthood Was In
Flower" stamp. which have had great
runs of popular favor and have sold by
tens of thousands. This Vermont ro-
nance should and will be found in the
homes of thousands OF Vcrmontcrs and
sons of Vermont in other States, and It
will delight many others who take an
interest in the unique and romantic fea-
lures of Nermont's early history.
This is. We believe. the first romance,
worthy of the name, by a Burlington
author. for the tales printed several
years ago by Mrs. Johnson. chiefly for
advertising purposes. can hardly be class
oil C nd ntoi ~
s. A.. the author of tho Seven Gray Pill
grims" brought out while he was for a
short time stationed in this city as mill
tary instructor in the University, was
not really a Burlingtonian.
Miss Theodore Peck. as many of our
readers know, is the only daughter and
only child Of Gen. Theodore S. Peck and
Mrs. Peck. and was born and bred in our
city. She is n passionate Vcrmonter in
her sympathics: and her devotion to her
native State, the careful studies she has
evidently made of its early history and
her now first discovered gifts as a COM
poser of fiction, give promise FOR her OF
marked and worthy distinction among
Vermont writer's.
Messrs. Fox and Dufiield, the publish
crs. have brought out the volume in
handsome shape. The cover bears a
view, seen as il through a window, of the
field of the Battle of Bennington The
frontispiece represents Hester as hand.
somcly dressed-and the woll-to-do girls
dressed we'll in those days-"Gibson Girl''
and the letter press is clear and good
The book IS for sale in Burlington by
Stanley and sent postpaid by the pub
Fishers. No. sc East 2lst street, New York,
on receipt of price--Sl.50.