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Category:
Literary Fiction
Publisher: Richard French
ISBN-10: 1539169308
Type: Fiction
Pages: 296
Copyright: Dec 21, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781539169307
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
This novel puts two periods of America's past side by side -- the 17th century and the mid-20th. Both tell about frustrations that occur in the quest for creativity and freedom.
The well-known film director Vincent Adair arrives in Stilton Fields in the mid-1950's hoping to find the subject for a movie that will revive his career. He decides to adapt the story of Lydia Bowstreet, a woman who was involved in a 17th century theological controversy and spent her last days in semi-exile in and near Stilton Fields. "The Opinionists" tells two stories in alternating chapters, one about the controversy that Lydia was involved in, another about the making of the film. The novel explores various aspects of the quest for freedom in North America.
Excerpt
Maybe it was the aftermath of a dream that he couldn’t remember – so he told me – but Theophilus Baxter woke up one morning in the middle of October 1658, with an unpleasant sensation of trouble. The second session of the General Court of Sagadac Bay would begin its final meeting later in the day. Although the discussions had been uproarious, Theophilus believed that his presentiment related to matters beyond the court’s jurisdiction He shook his head vigorously and walked barefoot across the cold floor to a water basin on a small table in the corner. A splash of water on his face drove away tiny fragments of sleep. While still in his nightshirt, he took his leather-bound Bible – one Elizabeth gave when they were married – from its shelf next to the door and brought it to the edge of his bed, where he sat down to say a short prayer and to read a passage from Paul’s writings. He then dressed and went down the narrow pine stairs to the kitchen, where Elizabeth was setting the table for breakfast.
During a pause in their talk about the needs of the day, his premonition of eventfulness returned. Elizabeth noticed the look in his eyes, a look of happiness cut short. (You’ll find scholarly summaries of our controversy in other places. I want to tell the personal side now, so I’ll add and subtract, embroider and elaborate. I’ll invent conversations. Some will complain about the liberties I’m taking, but our colony, an experiment in living, invites adventures that work to create understanding.)
“What is it now?” Elizabeth brought a tray of biscuits from the hearth to the table.
“We’ve had too much talk lately about God and the Bible,” Theophilus said. “I don’t understand much of the chatter, and I doubt anyone else does either. It’s bad for the country. I had a dream last night about Lydia Bowstreet.”
“What would you want to dream about that troublemaker for?”
“Things stick in our minds sometimes in the strangest way.”
Elizabeth filled a pitcher with milk and put it in the center of the table. “Things should improve when Pastor Allerton gets home. And they’ll get even better once you’re finally elected governor.”
“That won’t be till the spring – if it happens at all.”
Elizabeth’s discomfort with her husband’s melancholy flickered and trembled for a moment in her eyes. Theophilus looked out the window at the ships in Botolph Harbor. A horse-cart rattled by on the dirt road.
“Shouldn’t you try to understand the questions everyone is talking about?” Elizabeth asked. “I’ll help you – if you’ll let me.”
“Yes, of course,” Theophilus said absentmindedly. “A good idea.”
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