Caleb's Crossing is set on the island that is now known as Martha's Vineyard in the 1660s. Bethia Mayfield is the daughter of a minister in a small, Puritan, "pioneer" community. Caleb is a Native American and son of a chieftan. The initial chapters are from Bethia's point of view. She tells about the restrictions she faces as a young, Puritan girl and the daughter of the community's minister. No one in the community is supposed to go more than a mile outside of the village by themselves. And as a young woman, she is even more restricted. ...
Geraldine Brooks wrote this fictional novel using fragments from history. Caleb Cheeshahteaumauk, a member of the Wampanoag tribe, was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College.
External links[]
- Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks from the author's site contains a description, excerpts from reviews, and links to purchase the novel.