A Tale of New England: The Diaries of Hiram Harwood, Vermont Farmer, 1810-1837

by Robert E. Shalhope

The extraordinary diary of Vermont farmer Hiram Harwood―a fourteen-volume record of personal, family, and community events from 1808 to 1837―provides Robert E. Shalhope with the material for this rich microhistory. Harwood's struggle to reach full manhood and assume his position as head of the family, his misgivings about challenging―much less displacing―his father, the changes American life brought to this traditional rite of passage, Hiram's relationships with wife and children, seasonal events, and all the day-to-day experiences of this finally tragic figure make for a fascinating story and provide a highly unusual window into antebellum American life. Although he focuses mainly on the story of a single farmer, Shalhope also incorporates other stories from this wide-ranging chronicle. Readers glimpse the social, political, economic, and religious life of the entire New England region. Most of all, though, the story of Hiram Harwood reveals the personal price exacted of him by one family's unyielding belief in patriarchy.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 14, 2003

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tale is based on the 14 volume diary created by a third generation Bennington family member Hiram Harwood. Stalhope’s book gives an informative picture of early 19th rural life in a growing village. Harwood’s father and grandfather established the fa4m in the 1760’s and Hiram made it more prosperous by concentrating on cheese making. His family attended what is now known as the Old First Church which provides insight into that Vermont institution. That a member of this church, It was interesting to learn about the early history of this organization.