voc ep 98: Lucia St. Clair Robson

In 1638, Anicah Sparrow, a tough-talking 13-year-old pickpocket, is kidnapped in Bristol, England, and held inside the rat-infested bowels of a ship bound for Mary's Land, where she'll be sold as an indentured servant to the highest bidder. Several decks above is Margaret Brent, a 37-year-old descendant of English nobility who, along with her devout sister and brother, is being smuggled out of England to avoid persecution for illegally practicing Catholicism. Arriving in the New World, Anicah is sold to Samuel Smythe, a local tavern owner, but manages to steal away for romantic trysts with Martin, another indentured servant. Meanwhile, Margaret, who had purchased property in the new colony in exchange for transporting laborers from England, and who despaired upon first viewing the desolate land, begins building her new manor and planting tobacco and other crops. Robson diligently chronicles the struggles facing the new settlers and the ongoing battles over religious freedom, but few of her characters, including real-life historical personages like Margaret, inspire more than ordinary interest. (Publisher’s Weekly) A Chesapeake classic novel. If you loved Michener’s book Chesapeake you’re going to enjoy this story. (MB)

The Western Writers of America awarded her first book, Ride the Wind, the Spur Award for best historical western of 1982; it also made the New York Times Best Seller List and was included in the 100 best westerns of the 20th century. Since then she has written Walk in My Soul, Light a Distant Fire, The Tokaido Road, Mary’s Land, Fearless, Ghost Warrior: Lozen of the Apaches (finalist for the 2003 Spur award), and Shadow Patriots, a Novel of the Revolution.