Summer of Meteors
It’s late in President Buchanan’s first term of office, and the question of slavery has America teetering on the brink of Civil War. Buchanan and his niece Harriet, who serves as the bachelor President’s de facto First Lady, arrive at Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, for what is hoped to be a relaxing and rejuvenating summer stay. Harriet is attended to at the luxury resort by Anne, a young Quaker widow. Juba, who is a nursemaid enslaved by Buchanan’s female companion, is also part of the Presidential party. The three women become intertwined when the local underground railroad plans to free Juba. Buchanan’s failed policy to defer to states’ rights until slavery dies a natural death is abhorred by Harriet. Can she risk her relationship with her uncle, the President, to act on her convictions? Anne must decide whether taking action on her personal beliefs justifies the risks to herself and her family. And Juba’s yearning to be free must be weighed with her sense of duty to children in her care.
The story is admirably based on a historical nugget found in the record of President Buchanan’s travels to Bedford Springs. Positioning the real-life event as a contrast with and test to Buchanan’s compromise-seeking political position is unique and thought-provoking. Scenes are set with period detail, and passages describing the natural beauty of the area are quite evocative. Tension rises as Juba’s escape is contemplated, and suspense leads to twists and turns. The prose is generally pleasing and engaging, but slows occasionally by explaining points made in dialogue, and providing multiple physical reactions to demonstrate emotion. All in all, a terrific debut novel by a new voice in historical fiction.
