Emily Matthew's, although being raised in the South and on a plantation, she has been raised to know that slavery is wrong. These are people also, and just because they have a different colored skin than hers, does not mean they are meant to be treated so terribly. Her father, the town judge has been buying up slaves off the sales block for years. They do have a plantation that the slaves work on, but they are treated fair.

They are not whipped, beaten, hungry or unsheltered. Some of them have even been taught to read, and some of their letters. So when it is time for Emily to find someone to take as a husband, she worries that he will have ill intentions. Wanting slaves that are treated terribly and she could not live with that, or would marry her out of the potential to inherit any of her fathers land when the time would come.

Emily does marry, a local doctor. There are rumors that have been bounced from mouth to mouth about his sleeping habits, but he treats Emily well. Has no issue with her treating blacks, as an equal and in a way lets Emily do what she wants to do. His sister Belinda ends up marrying Emily's brother Will.

There is fear and worry as word and signs of war breaks out over slavery. There is fear that they will be over taken and slavery will become the normal. There will be no ability for the judge to run his farm as he has, even though technically it is illegal. Blacks cannot be "free" and "learned". Not only is there tensions of the war, there becomes tension amongst the family.

Will falls ill and dies, and that starts the tumultuous downfall. Emily thinks her husband could have dome more, and that he may have helped kill Will, in that the drug he was giving him may have been more of an overdose, than helpful. Her father also has anger towards him, and Belinda is beside herself. Tensions rise, and Emily's father does all he can to hold off on giving Belinda anything owed, being Will's widow.

This does not sit well, and all hell breaks loose. Blood is shed, and important people loose their lives, all in one night. Over greed and want. Emily is now at the forefront of it all. She has lost the most and is not sure how she will endure. But it is up to her to keep things going, for the slaves to continue to be "free" and for everything that her father had done to not be in vein.

This was a very good novel, it really showed the true side of how greed and beliefs could kill someone. It was an interesting look into the life of someone who was trying to do right by slaves, as right as he could during this time.

Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and to the author, Diane C McPhail for a very well written story of that time. Another great novel to add to your list of slavery books. ( )

Emily Matthews grew up in Mississippi in the 1850's. Her father, the town Judge is an abolitionist. Judge Matthews owns slaves and teaches the children alongside his own. One of the slaves, Ginny has grown up raising Emily after her mother's death. Recently, at Emily's insistence Judge Matthews bought a family that was going to be broken up at auction. Nathan arrived with a broken arm, prompting Judge Matthews to call the town doctor, Charles Slate. After the visit, Charles takes a liking to Emily and asks for her hand in marriage. As their relationship progresses, so do tensions in the Slate and Matthews families as well as between the North and South. Emily, Ginny and Emily's mother-in-law, Adeline forge out new relationships during the war as the forge out a new way to survive.
The Abolitionist's Daughter dives into the complex relationships between slaves, slave owners and families during the Civil War. Most of the story focuses on Emily's choices and changing views and not much on abolition. I felt like the most important character was Ginny, the unyielding logic and knowledge of the fragility of her situation that she constantly imparts upon Emily is a beacon of light in Emily's times of darkness and uncertainty. Although Emily was not part of any abolitionists movement, her willingness to learn about her slave's experiences and fears combined with her small actions of defiance ultimately made a difference in their lives. Most of the plot was focuses on familial drama and the role of choice within our lives. Within this, highlighting the strength of the women left behind finding their ability to make decisions on their own and create change. Emily's story was heartfelt and well written with wonderful characters showing a different side of the South during the Civil War.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )

My review is posted here:

https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/abolitionists-daughter

Emily Matthews, the only daughter of an abolitionist judge, has been sheltered her entire life. When a young doctor, Charles Slate, comes courting, she is delighted. Marriage, however, brings realizations she never expected, and as war threatens, Emily is forced to find a strength she didn't know she had within her.

When I began reading this, I thought there would be more about abolitionist at the time. We are told her father has raised her with the same convictions, that he has an illegal school to teach his slaves, but we never see it. And in her courtship of Charles, those convictions are not important enough for Emily to make sure the man shares them.

The main problem I had was that there seemed to be a lack of focus. There were so many characters, who would appear and then disappear, only to reappear later to confuse me. Had the story remained with Emily, Ginny, and Adeline, the story would have been stronger. I also felt like the feelings expressed had a very 2019 opinion behind them.

It was an easy read, even with the dark tones. Also, there were a couple of sex scenes, though not overly detailed.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for reviewing purposes. ( )

The Abolitionist's Daughter, written by Diane C. McPhail, opens in Greensboro, Mississippi in the year 1859. A slave auction has been scheduled. A young woman by the name of Emily Matthews is begging her father to prevent the slave Nathan from being separated from his family. Her father, a judge, is a staunch abolitionist. ...more ( )