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Margaret Smith's Journal / Part 1 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf Whittier cover

Margaret Smith's Journal / Part 1 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf Whittier

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About This Book

A young Englishwoman records life in New England during 1678–79, chronicling her voyage, arrival in Boston, and stay with a prominent family at their plantation. The journal combines travel narrative, domestic detail, and encounters with clergy, magistrates, settlers, and local Native people, observing religious strictures and social customs. Interspersed sketches and short tales illustrate regional folklore, small moral conflicts, and scenes of everyday labor and festivity. The voice balances personal reflection and descriptive reporting, presenting a vivid portrait of seventeenth-century colonial life and its tensions between private feeling and communal expectation.

About the Author

Whittier, John Greenleaf portrait

John Greenleaf Whittier

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was an American poet and advocate for social reform, particularly known for his strong anti-slavery stance. A prominent figure in the abolitionist movement, Whittier's poetry often reflected his deep commitment to social justice and moral integrity. His notable works include "Barbara Frietchie," which celebrates courage in the face of oppression, and the collection "Anti-Slavery Poems," which articulates the struggles and injustices faced by enslaved individuals. Whittier's lyrical style and passionate themes contributed significantly to American literature and the cultural discourse surrounding civil rights in the 19th century.

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