The Daughter of Union County: A Novel

I enjoyed this novel. Until the end. The end was incredibly rushed and did a disservice to the characters. This should have been two novels with the same care put into the last quarter of the book and characters as was put into the first three quarters.

Won't be in that much of a hurry to pick up another book by this author.

This novel begins in 1879 in Union County, Arkansas, and spans some 63 years thereafter as we learn about the fate of an interracial family headed by white Henry Hardin. Henry’s wife Bertha could not have children, but Henry’s black “mistress” gives Henry his first child shortly after Bertha’s fourth miscarriage. “Henry was no different from any other man of means in Union County. They all had colored mistresses. Many had more than one.”

The term "mistress" was used intentionally, implying consent. But a slave woman did not have the option to say no. Nevertheless, white masters preferred this benign term to one that might have suggested force or rape. Henry's behavior exhibited a long-standing pattern of white power and privilege that allowed white men to do with their "property" what they wished to do.

The young woman of 18 with whom Henry, 43, had relations, Salome, was mixed race herself. Her mother had been raped repeatedly by Henry’s Irish overseer. When Salome’s baby by Henry was born, the little girl looked white, and Henry decided he and Bertha would raise the child as his own so he could carry on his legacy.

Much of the story is told from the perspective of Salome and her children - she eventually has three - but only her first can pass for white. In the process of telling the story, the author catalogues the sexual predations of whites on black women (seen as no more than they deserve), and the constant insults, injustices, and threats of violence to which the black men were subject, especially if they did not show proper deference to whites.

But most of the book is about “passing.” As Daniel Sharstein wrote in his study of this phenomenon in The Invisible Line, there was an overlooked mass migration from black to white as many African Americans gave up their identities in return for the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As blacks, they suffered restrictions on the ability to earn a living, get an education, enjoy public facilities, avoid threats and insults, and live without the fear of lynching when the mood of whites spoiled. So those who could cross the invisible line between races would often choose almost any other hardships to escape the poisonous consequences of racism.

Margaret, Salome’s first child, benefitted from both affluence and whiteness as the putative daughter of Henry and Bertha Hardin, at least until Henry’s resentful brother exposed Margaret at her coming out party when she turned 18. [Interracial sex was one thing, but bestowing white privilege upon a black or mixed-race person was held to be anathema.]

As Sharfstein emphasizes, from the very beginning of our nation, “…the consequences of being black or white were enormous. It often meant the difference between slavery and freedom, poverty and prosperity, persecution and power.” Thus Margaret was desperate to keep the secret of her African American blood for as long as she could. But the rumors continued to circulate, and all of her family was endangered. After all, trying to "pass" to obtain what one didn't "deserve" was considered to be even worse than being black in the first place.

Some of what happened at the end of book got resolved a little unrealistically, in my opinion, specifically in terms of the metamorphosis of some of the characters from very bad to pretty good. But it made the injustice of the saga more bearable, at least.

Evaluation: This is a horrific story in many ways. But it is well-written, and unfortunately, does not seem at all exaggerated. As difficult as it is to read, for those who want to know what blacks in the South went through after the Civil War was over, this book will make a good start.

recieved this book THE DAUGHTER OF UNION COUNTY BY FRANCINE THOMAS HOWARD from goodreads free in exchange for a review.

I loathe to write a bad review on a book because I dont want to hurt anyones career,but its my promise to goodreads that I do so.

I struggled to get through this because to me it was beyond boring. No highlights stick out in my mind as there were really no highlights to the story. I pretty much have forgotten the book already and I finished it yesterday,after much struggle.

If you go for one dimensional truly snoring characters with no redeemable qualities then this one's for you , if not, dont bother

It is 1879 and Lord Henry Hardin of Union County, Arkansas awaits the birth his child. However, the mother is not Lady Bertha who is unable to bear children, but instead is Salome, a former slave. Lord Henry is determined that his family name will be continued so he takes the white-skinned, blue-eyed female child from Salome to be raised as his and Bertha’s child – a white child. Thus Margaret, child of a former slave is raised as a Southern lady granted all the privileges of a wealthy white family.

Over the years Henry and Salome manage to maintain their secret. However, at some point secrets always come out. And the consequences are life-changing to many of the characters. The story spans the years of 1879 to 1942, thus revealing the consequences of Henry and Salome’s secret through the generations.

There are quite a few reviews on this book lamenting its racism and violence toward women. But that is how it was in those days. We can’t rewrite history but we can learn how it was and not repeat those atrocities.

This is a story of family – good or bad. Through all the turmoils and struggles, the strength of the family endures. They showed how much could be accomplished as a united family than could have been accomplished as individuals. And there were true “laugh-out-loud” moments, as there are in all families. The characters were so well developed I felt as though I knew them. I laughed with them, grieved with them, and celebrated with them.

Title: The Daughter of Union County
Author: Francine Thomas Howard
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"The Daughter of Union County" by Francine Thomas Howard

My Thoughts.....

I will start out saying this was definitely one of those novels that you will either like or dislike. Well, I am a little in between because the author does bring out a lot of what was going on during that time of slavery. This was a read of much greed, strange family that dealt with slavery, domestic abuse, fear, racism and what I found most interesting sometimes even love? I still can't quite understand why I chose to read this novel other than the description of the read got my attention. To say I liked this read, well I can't say that to be completely honest, however I did feel that this author gave it her all with her writing and to give the reader a HEA ending was somewhat indeed interesting to me. I will say I am not interest in slavery but I just wanted to see how this author would lay it all out for the reader. To say this was a enjoyable read where I couldn't put down would not be true for me. However, being a book reviewer I always finish any book I pickup to read. This was definitely a very sad look at what has gone on in 'our world.' I am glad this is a fiction read and not a true story. My rating will be a 3.5 which equals out to a four because I did think this author did give the reader one very unforgettable read about the 'reconstruction era of slavery and indentured servitude' that you will either choose to like or dislike. It will be up to you the reader to decide for yourself.


I received the novel from NetGallery in return for my honest opinion.