Colonial Dames and Good Wives

by Alice Morse Earle

"Colonial Dames and Good Wives" by Alice Morse Earle is a detailed exploration of the lives of women in colonial America. The book delves into the roles, relationships, and societal expectations of colonial women, highlighting their resilience and resourcefulness. Through anecdotes and historical accounts, the author celebrates the strength, intelligence, and contributions of colonial women to shaping the culture and society of the time. From the challenges faced by women to the customs surrounding marriage and widowhood, this book provides insights into the complexities of colonial life and the significant roles played by women in the development of the colonies.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 28, 1988

About the author

Alice Morse Earle was an American historian and author from Worcester, Massachusetts. She was christened Mary Alice by her parents Edwin Morse and Abby Mason Clary. On 15 April 1874, she married Henry Earle of New York, changing her name from Mary Alice Morse to Alice Morse Earle. Her writings, beginning in 1890, focussed on small sociological details rather than grand details, and thus are invaluable for modern sociologists. She wrote a number of books on colonial America (and especially the New England region) such as Curious Punishments of Bygone Days. She was a passenger aboard the RMS Republic when, while in a dense fog, that ship collided with the SS Florida. During the transfer of passengers, Alice fell into the water. Her near drowning in 1909 off the coast of Nantucket during this abortive trip to Egypt weakened her health sufficiently that she died two years later, in Hempstead, Long Island.

Reviews

[Angela Gyurko · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to love about an 1896 book about the habits and practices of women in the colonies before the Revolutionary War? Written with all the bias and none of the sourcing, it is as much a commentary on 19th century beliefs about Revolutionary-era America as it is the events themselves.

An excellent place to start for anyone researching daily habits during colonial times, the entire book can be read online. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record...

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

This book shows a fascinating glimpse of early New England before and during the Revolutionary War. Women's lives are difficult, but they are similar in spirit to women of the 21st century. I recommend it.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. US women of colonial times. The good girls and the bad girls.

Worth it for the story of Universal Friend alone. I also enjoyed the stories of boycotting tea because that helped to fund the British tyrant.

Available for free at Project Gutenberg.