It’s not a fast story, and at times I would have liked to see more detail of certain events, such as when Benedict Arnold was exposed as a traitor. I wonder what the emotional impact of that would have been on George and Martha, and it’s barely touched on here. At the same time, there is a wealth of emotion in other ways—so many losses in Martha’s life, so much strength to carry on. This book covers a lot of ground, from the death of Martha’s first husband to after George’s presidency. It was fascinating to see George through Martha’s eyes, and I wanted the story to end in a different place. I know it had to end that way, but I didn’t want it to.

Having just read a novel that made strong womanhood a matter of pushing back against all convention, I really enjoyed the strength and wisdom and graciousness Martha displayed in complementing George and embracing her role in the sphere she was given. The glimpses of other officers’ wives and their lives during the war was also interesting to me. There is a lot of sorrow and death in this book, but it’s well written and showcases strength and honest faith in a way that’s not overly despondent.

In short, this novel offers fascinating insight into a different aspect of early America and the strength of those who stood behind the famous names. Highly recommended for lovers of history.

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Jayna Baas is the author of Preacher on the Run and director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free short story here.