The Education of Ebenezer Wells

by Louise Harmon

The year is 1819. The place is Litchfield, Connecticut. This book of historical fiction recounts the adventures of six students, three men at the nation’s first law school, the Litchfield Law School, and their love interests at the Litchfield Female Academy.

Eb Wells and Thomas Bradford traveled from Savannah to study law. Thomas, an alcoholic dandy, pursues Katherine Montgomery, a Southern belle, who rejects him. Charles Godwin, an artist and reluctant law student, falls for the boisterous Martha Lewis, but their romance hits a paternal roadblock. Eb is smitten with the brainy Rebecca Harding, but she cannot marry him because she wants to be a teacher. Feeling guilty for monopolizing Eb, Rebecca hands him over to the predatory Katherine Montgomery.

Against this backdrop of floundering romances, Rebecca, Martha, and Katherine flourish at the female academy. The young men study law—or not. Charles drops out to pursue his art. Thomas tries to flunk out. Eb undergoes a transformation, from a bumbling, classics scholar to a rising star of the moot court.

But Eb is clumsy in love and uncomfortable with his choice of Katherine Montgomery. Will Eb compromise his abolitionist beliefs to marry the daughter of a slave-owner? Or will he find his way back to Rebecca? And why should he do that—if Rebecca cannot marry him at all?

The Education of Ebenezer Wells is Book 1 of a tetralogy, The Litchfield Chronicles. The other books are Book 2. The Apprenticeship of Ebenezer Wells; Book 3. The Trial of Ebenezer Wells; and Book 4. The Education of Johanna Wells.

312 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

Louise Harmon is a retired law professor, with a JD, a PhD in philosophy, and two master’s degrees. She has written numerous scholarly writings and published short stories with The Legal Studies Forum, including one on the history of the Litchfield Law School. Her three published books are: Fragments on the Deathwatch, Beacon Press; Cultivating Intelligence: Law, Power, and the Politics of Teaching with Deborah Post, New York University Press; The Education of Ebenezer Wells, Book 1 of The Litchfield Chronicles, Hot Brick Books. (Three more books are forthcoming in The Litchfield Chronicles.) She has three amazing adult daughters and a kind husband. She is also a major cat lover.

Reviews

[Hazel Weiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction offers a personal insight into an epoch, turning concepts and factoids into living characters. That is what Louise Harmon has done with The Education of Ebenezer Wells, the first of four novels set in Litchfield, CT starting in 1819-20. Ms. Harmon has turned her research into the first American law school and the women's seminaries that dotted New England into living history. Gender, class, race, and slavery are all part of the narrative, as are the educational and courting traditions among young educated white people from both the North and the South. So many people lacked the ability to steer their own course in life back then, and for those who rebelled, or lacked the finances to escape their destinies, the absence of free will takes many forms. The writing is nuanced and clear, the characters more than just representative of their positions, and the history is a delight to learn. Much of her insight into gender, class, and race remains relevant now, when we are having such difficulty fully understanding, or even articulating, these historical legacies. I'm looking forward to the next volumes, because Ms. Harmon's writing allows us to care about her six young people and what happens to them.

[Donna Lefebvre · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! The Education of Ebenezer Wells is a marvelous historical novel about the adventures and evolution of a young Savannah Southerner when, during the early 1800s, he travels North to Connecticut to attend the country's first law school.
This novel is a fascinating, wonderfully written snapshot of a pivotal period in American history in which the moral discord surrounding slavery divides friends, families, and regions. In addition to the vivid descriptions of the young men attending the Law School, the author also expertly explores the lives of the young women attending the nearby well-respected female academy--some women sent there to find a suitable law-trained husband. During this period of history, the female students face many restrictions on their education and careers.
I loved learning about the two schools, which in fact existed, the surrounding towns, and the people who lived there. For me, the perfect historical novel requires an engrossing, well-written story woven with interesting, historical facts. Such a novel brings history dramatically to life: this book IS the perfect historical novel.
Once l began The Education of Ebenezer , l didn't stop for hours-- so be prepared to be swept away!

[Heather Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louise Harmon has delivered a truly memorable book. I found The Education of Ebenezer Wells a wonderful historical fiction. I was drawn into the lives of all the characters in this book like a symphony draws you in with music. It is rare to find a book that I am so immersed in that I completely forget that I am actually reading instead of being there. Louise Harmon masterfully wove her story with accurate descriptions of how life was in the time period where slavery was still an active way of life for so many people in our country and the fact that it really was not that long ago. I enjoyed the way the main character Eb was from the south, traveled to the north and was introduced to a different way of life and thinking. I also enjoyed how the other characters lives were seemingly woven into Eb's life along with their individual struggles. The way social status and the expectation of others influences the actions of the characters and reminds you that many of those things are still in play today, was brilliantly written. Thank you Louise Harmon and HOT BRICK BOOKS for the free copy of this story for my honest review. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series to continue the adventure.

[Joyce Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful mix of the history and fiction

This was a fascinating book that combines real history about the early education of young women to become wives and young men to become lawyers. The differences in educational goals and appreciation of male and female intelligence is an interesting subtext.
Throughout, The Education of Ebenezer Wells is a well-written book that is enjoyable to read. I really cared about what was happening to Ed and Rebecca, Charles and Martha and Thomas, Judges Reeves and Gould. And the cats.
I know many people who are currently reading, or have just finished The Education of Eb Wells. You’ll be in good company.

[Jordan Waldner · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone like me who is intrigued by human relationships, this book will be worthwhile. I can hardly believe it was written by a law professor - I would have guessed that these profs are even drier and straightforward than those in the math department. This law-professor-author understands young people and their emotional dynamics. I want to add that the pace of the book is pleasantly constant and the unfolding of the story keeps you turning the pages.

[Janet Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book: extremely well written, draws you in to the relationships among this group of very believable, doubting and questioning youths in 19th century New England. And on another level, very informative about the first law school in the US, and early education for women; I learned a lot about this period, a very interesting one in our history.

[Helen David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Education of Ebenezer Wells. The characters, each and all, were believable and interesting as the author fleshed out their personalities within the unfolding of a fascinating storyline that kept me entranced and caring about their lives. I feel I cannot, but must, await the release of the continuing story in the next installment in this book series!

[MEL Oh My That’s a lot of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Education of Ebenezer Wells is a quiet gem that sneaks up on you. Thoughtful, heartfelt, and gently powerful, it explores growth, regret, and second chances in a way that feels very human. The writing is smooth and reflective, and Ebenezer’s journey lingers with you long after the last page. A subtle but satisfying read that proves sometimes the smallest stories leave the biggest marks.

[Sandy Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction at its best. The characters become more alive with each turn of the page as they navigate through higher learning in the surroundings of Litchfield, CT. I anxiously await Book 2 of The Litchfield Chronicles.

[Carolyn Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating historical fiction the illustrates the beginning of the first law school in the United States, merged with the social customs and issues of the day. An enjoyable and educational read!