I just finished reading The
invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.
This book is based on the story of the Grimke sisters, Sarah and
Angelina, who were raised in Charleston South Carolina and whose family owned
slaves. They disagreed with the
tradition of slavery and became the first female abolition agents and public
speakers for feminist ideals.
The book follows the relationship between “Handful,” a slave
who was owned by the Grimke family and given as a handmaid to Sarah Grimke on
her tenth birthday, and Sarah Grimke. Handul
always wanted to be a free woman, and Sarah always wanted to have a profession
and do more than was acceptable for a woman of means at that time. In many ways they were both slaves to their
environment.
The book follows their relationship from fiends as children,
to the more complicated relationship that developed as they grew older and were
on different sides of the slave/master line.
Even though Sarah never believed in slavery she eventually could not
tolerate how Handful was treated and began to speak out against the institution
of slavery at her own peril.
Sue Monk Kidd does extensive research for each of her books
and if you enjoy a historical fiction which brings the Civil War to life you
will definitely enjoy reading The Invention
of Wings.
reviewed by Becky Gold
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