Ebook Deliverance Mary Fields First African American Woman Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States A Montana History Huzzah Publishing Miantae Metcalf McConnell Books
Download As PDF : Deliverance Mary Fields First African American Woman Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States A Montana History Huzzah Publishing Miantae Metcalf McConnell Books
Oprah Magazine Top 10 List LITERARY NONFICTION  BIOGRAPHY
1885 - 1914. Mary Fields, a fifty-three-year old second-generation slave, emancipated and residing in Toledo, receives news of her friend's impending death. Remedies packed in her satchel, Mary rushes to board the Northern Pacific. Days later, she arrives in the Montana wilderness to find Mother Mary Amadeus lying on frozen earth in a broken-down cabin. Certain that the cloister of frostbit Ursuline nuns and their students, Indian girls rescued from nearby reservations, will not survive without assistance, Mary decides to stay.
She builds a hennery, makes repairs to living quarters, cares for stock, and treks into the mountains to provide food. Brushes with death do not deter her. Mary drives a horse and wagon through perilous terrain and sub zero blizzards to improve the lives of missionaries, homesteaders and Indians and, in the process, her own.
After weathering wolf attacks, wagon crashes and treacherous conspiracies by scoundrels, local politicians and the state's first Catholic bishop, Mary Fields creates another daring plan. An avid patriot, she is determined to register for the vote. The price is high. Will she manifest her personal vision of independence?
MIANTAE METCALF MCCONNELL'S RESEARCH enabled USPS historians to verify Mary Fields as the first African American woman star route mail carrier in the U.S. A fact-based chronicle of Fields' life in Montana from 1885 until her death in 1914, the narrative examines women rights, bootleg politics, Montana's turn-of-the-century transition from territory to state and its scandalous 1914 woman suffrage election.
Ebook Deliverance Mary Fields First African American Woman Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States A Montana History Huzzah Publishing Miantae Metcalf McConnell Books
"Though I usually place various cautions or warnings at the end of my reviews, in this case I think it is only fair to the reader to be forthright from the beginning. “Deliverance Mary Fields, First African American Woman Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States†by Miante Metcalf McConnell is a monumental work. Indeed, my Kindle (which presumably knows my reading speed) indicated at the beginning that the estimated reading time would be 13 hours and 48 minutes. To stay with this intricate and intimate historical biography requires genuine interest and commitment. Another concern is that the author uses absolutely authentic terminology corresponding to the disrespectful – indeed absolutely insulting – language used by most people of European ancestry in frontier Montana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to reference people of African American and Native American heritage. In addition, the author’s descriptions of the cruelty and abuse of Indian children perpetrated during the attempts to “civilize†them – while absolutely accurate – are not comfortable reading. Finally, she is brutally honest about the graft, dishonesty and hypocrisy of the "Christian" males in power, up to and including a Catholic bishop.
These things being said, the depiction of the life of Mary Fields is gripping and fascinating, and when towards the end the story involves the women’s and children's rights causes to which she was committed, it becomes intensely relevant and enthralling. In addition, McConnell’s descriptions of the hardships and challenges of life in Montana at the turn of the century, her fine touch with characterization, and her flowing prose are definitely enough to launch this story to the level of genuine literature. It is the type of book that I will return to from time to time despite its length simply for the joy and refreshment it offers."
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Deliverance Mary Fields First African American Woman Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States A Montana History Huzzah Publishing Miantae Metcalf McConnell Books Reviews :
Deliverance Mary Fields First African American Woman Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States A Montana History Huzzah Publishing Miantae Metcalf McConnell Books Reviews
- Though I usually place various cautions or warnings at the end of my reviews, in this case I think it is only fair to the reader to be forthright from the beginning. “Deliverance Mary Fields, First African American Woman Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States†by Miante Metcalf McConnell is a monumental work. Indeed, my (which presumably knows my reading speed) indicated at the beginning that the estimated reading time would be 13 hours and 48 minutes. To stay with this intricate and intimate historical biography requires genuine interest and commitment. Another concern is that the author uses absolutely authentic terminology corresponding to the disrespectful – indeed absolutely insulting – language used by most people of European ancestry in frontier Montana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to reference people of African American and Native American heritage. In addition, the author’s descriptions of the cruelty and abuse of Indian children perpetrated during the attempts to “civilize†them – while absolutely accurate – are not comfortable reading. Finally, she is brutally honest about the graft, dishonesty and hypocrisy of the "Christian" males in power, up to and including a Catholic bishop.
These things being said, the depiction of the life of Mary Fields is gripping and fascinating, and when towards the end the story involves the women’s and children's rights causes to which she was committed, it becomes intensely relevant and enthralling. In addition, McConnell’s descriptions of the hardships and challenges of life in Montana at the turn of the century, her fine touch with characterization, and her flowing prose are definitely enough to launch this story to the level of genuine literature. It is the type of book that I will return to from time to time despite its length simply for the joy and refreshment it offers. - Actually this should be a 3.5 rating. The story line was good for the most part. There were a few things that really bothered me. First, I was shocked when the girl who had been raped and needed a solution to her problem had Mary Fields suggest abortion. In the 19th century abortion was extremely dangerous and primitive. Mary Fields had been greatly influenced by nuns and had the mother superior as a very close friend. Abortion just didn't seem like something a person of her background would present as a solution. Also, mentioning that Mary appreciated the music she was hearing and "God Bless America" was mentioned. The book ended in1914 and Irvin Berlin wrote the song in 1918. It wasn't well known until Kate Smith made it famous in WWII. Things like this caused me to question the validity of the research. The book was longer than it needed to be, but it was still good.
- As a person who almost exclusively reads history books, I found this work of historical fiction to be very engaging. I have read Montana history for many years, and the Birdtail Butte holds particular fascination for me. As a native of Great Falls, Montana, the geography of this book is very familiar; the Cascade, Fort Shaw, Great Falls, and Helena areas are etched into my DNA. I have read multiple publications about Mary Fields, so I wanted to read this book, too.
It took me a while to get into the initial, rather flowery, literary style that was unfamiliar to my historical reading background. But, once I got into the characters and stories, I enjoyed it very much. I began to appreciate the author's ability to create and develop characters and stories around an historical figure.
Throughout the book, I wondered how much was history and how much was story. When I completed the book and read the bibliography, I was pleased to see many historical records of which I am familiar, even some I have in my own collection.
I noted a few botanical faux pas in the book. It referred to tamarack trees in the Cascade/Birdtail area. Tamarack (Western Larch) trees are not native to eastern Montana but are common in western Montana. Some of the references to wildflowers also seemed incorrect regarding blooming season. Small matters!
Thank you to the author for guiding me through this very interesting exploration of Montana's history, geography, and spirit. I look forward to a possible side-trip to Cascade to find Mary's grave site. I understand Mother Amadeus is buried at the St. Ignatius Mission cemetery - another visit I plan to make. And, since I now live near Columbia Falls, MT, perhaps I will run into the author and have a chance to chat with her about this wonderful book. - 10-Star book...being an avid reader, has I have read MANY genres of books, I can say that this book rocked me to the core....overwhelmed by the character, intelligence, independence and tenacity of Mary Fields (white crow), I am thankful for such an upright, uplifted life of this woman. Being FIRST in any area involves much sacrifices and lots of hard work. Self-worth and self-respect can't be bought, for they are ingrained in one's self. I thank GOD for her personal relationship with Him that allowed her to have a true heart, overlooking so much prejudice and unfairness she experienced, she persevered. Hidden No More from our Black History and our American History, we salute you our HEROINE....of righteousness. Thank GOD for uncovering this Valuable gem. To GOD be the glory for making this happen. A Black Woman
