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Spinning Jenny
"I guess I'll name you Jenny, something I can say easy. That was my mammy's name, anyway. Jenny. You be Jenny from now on..."
Cornelius Carson's mother cautioned him never to own slaves, but in 1830s Louisiana, land and slaves are proof of a man's worth. At 23 Cornelius is ambitious, and in love. He owns one elderly slave, Malachi, and a small cotton farm along Bayou Cocodrie. And he plans to marry Stephanie Coqterre, daughter of a wealthy Natchez planter. He needs another field-hand, but prices are high. So when a trader brings a coffle of smuggled slaves to Natchez, Cornelius buys a 10-year-old girl. She is mute and nameless, but she's all he can afford. He names her Jenny.
It quickly becomes apparent that Jenny will change life on the Cocodrie as much as it changes her. The winds of ambition are blowing everywhere, both among the whites, who strive for wealth and status, and among the slaves, who yearn for freedom.
But dangers are everywhere, too. As madness and treachery reach from Natchez to the Cocodrie to blast all their dreams, Cornelius struggles to find a way to salvage his life and the lives of Jenny and Malachi as well.
Cornelius Carson's mother cautioned him never to own slaves, but in 1830s Louisiana, land and slaves are proof of a man's worth. At 23 Cornelius is ambitious, and in love. He owns one elderly slave, Malachi, and a small cotton farm along Bayou Cocodrie. And he plans to marry Stephanie Coqterre, daughter of a wealthy Natchez planter. He needs another field-hand, but prices are high. So when a trader brings a coffle of smuggled slaves to Natchez, Cornelius buys a 10-year-old girl. She is mute and nameless, but she's all he can afford. He names her Jenny.
It quickly becomes apparent that Jenny will change life on the Cocodrie as much as it changes her. The winds of ambition are blowing everywhere, both among the whites, who strive for wealth and status, and among the slaves, who yearn for freedom.
But dangers are everywhere, too. As madness and treachery reach from Natchez to the Cocodrie to blast all their dreams, Cornelius struggles to find a way to salvage his life and the lives of Jenny and Malachi as well.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2016
1030 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
September 5, 2022
If you like historical fiction, this book is for you. I was hooked from the first page and never came up for air until the end. The author does an amazing job of showing the social and economic conflict leading to the Civil War. The character development has amazing depth and brings the story to life as each person suffers hardships and heartbreak. But throughout, there is hope. I've already ordered the next in the series. Highly recommend this book.
October 22, 2017
Excellent Book!
Very well written, easy read. Gives you a peak into what life was like in the 1800s. The author did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I didn't want to put the book down, kept wondering what's going to happen next and wanted to know now! This is not one in a series of books and will not leave you hanging at the end. Highly recommend!
Very well written, easy read. Gives you a peak into what life was like in the 1800s. The author did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I didn't want to put the book down, kept wondering what's going to happen next and wanted to know now! This is not one in a series of books and will not leave you hanging at the end. Highly recommend!
February 7, 2025
AI audio not the best
The storyline was interesting and held my attention as long as I was reading. But since I like audiobook accompaniment, I tried the AI on this one. Luckily it wasn't costly as it wasn't so good. No inflections and mispronounced words were common, rather ruined the story for me. I will know for future.
The storyline was interesting and held my attention as long as I was reading. But since I like audiobook accompaniment, I tried the AI on this one. Luckily it wasn't costly as it wasn't so good. No inflections and mispronounced words were common, rather ruined the story for me. I will know for future.
January 25, 2023
Good story, many errors
Great plot and an easy read . Too many typos — needs better editing. One example of an error is the scene with the rabid, brown possum. Possums are immune to rabies, and are gray. Better research needed. Overall enjoyable book.
Great plot and an easy read . Too many typos — needs better editing. One example of an error is the scene with the rabid, brown possum. Possums are immune to rabies, and are gray. Better research needed. Overall enjoyable book.
September 3, 2017
Good book from beginning to end. Well written story.
August 10, 2018
Okay
The ending was too rushed. The first half was good and then it lost its way somewhere in the middle.
The ending was too rushed. The first half was good and then it lost its way somewhere in the middle.
October 15, 2018
It was ok.
September 11, 2018
Deep and Convincing
I am a bit stunned. I read a lot and mostly the current books I've read have been flawed or just plain bad. So I am rightly stunned now after finishing Spinning Jenny: A Novel. The author captured everything perfectly for me. She brought the theme of slavery as a despicable institution to life. She made the lives of her characters poignant and so that the reader would care and care deeply. She has a masterful way with the genuine dialect of the slave and country communities in Louisiana and Mississippi of the 1830s. The story follows the dreams of a white man, Cornelius, and of his purchase of a young seeming mute African girl, he names the nameless girl Jenny, to help him plant and hoe cotton on his small farm in the Louisiana back-country. Jenny grows and learns the language. That is portrayed seamlessly. Cornelius as a decent and considerate slave owner works side by side with Jenny and his other slave hand, old Malachi. Marriages occur, wealth is dreamed of, the very unique city of Natchez is shown good and bad. Floods, drownings, hangings and murder happen. But all written realistically and believably. Jenny yearns to shrug off the shackles of slavery. A booming ending reveals whether dreams can come true. Change is ever present in the lives of these people. In my mind that is why the title. Change spins like a Spinning Jenny and it is Jenny who the change spins for. And it's a tome which puts its mark on why black lives matter; free black lives unfettered by oppression. Not to get carried away but I loved this gem of a story. Gave 5 stars because it stirred my mind and captured my heart. Thank you Sylvia McLain.
I am a bit stunned. I read a lot and mostly the current books I've read have been flawed or just plain bad. So I am rightly stunned now after finishing Spinning Jenny: A Novel. The author captured everything perfectly for me. She brought the theme of slavery as a despicable institution to life. She made the lives of her characters poignant and so that the reader would care and care deeply. She has a masterful way with the genuine dialect of the slave and country communities in Louisiana and Mississippi of the 1830s. The story follows the dreams of a white man, Cornelius, and of his purchase of a young seeming mute African girl, he names the nameless girl Jenny, to help him plant and hoe cotton on his small farm in the Louisiana back-country. Jenny grows and learns the language. That is portrayed seamlessly. Cornelius as a decent and considerate slave owner works side by side with Jenny and his other slave hand, old Malachi. Marriages occur, wealth is dreamed of, the very unique city of Natchez is shown good and bad. Floods, drownings, hangings and murder happen. But all written realistically and believably. Jenny yearns to shrug off the shackles of slavery. A booming ending reveals whether dreams can come true. Change is ever present in the lives of these people. In my mind that is why the title. Change spins like a Spinning Jenny and it is Jenny who the change spins for. And it's a tome which puts its mark on why black lives matter; free black lives unfettered by oppression. Not to get carried away but I loved this gem of a story. Gave 5 stars because it stirred my mind and captured my heart. Thank you Sylvia McLain.
August 4, 2018
Boring
I can't help but wonder where all the 5 star reviews came from. I always enjoy historical fiction, particularly that of the Civil War era
I got a sample and thought I'd enjoy it. I bailed out at around 25%. This was so boring and was going nowhere fast. The characters were not well developed and the story line was tedious. All I can say is to me this was a very vanilla read and I just had to move on to something more interesting and relevant.
I can't help but wonder where all the 5 star reviews came from. I always enjoy historical fiction, particularly that of the Civil War era
I got a sample and thought I'd enjoy it. I bailed out at around 25%. This was so boring and was going nowhere fast. The characters were not well developed and the story line was tedious. All I can say is to me this was a very vanilla read and I just had to move on to something more interesting and relevant.
December 30, 2017
Best Historical Fiction I've read in a long time!
I truly enjoyed this tale of the lives that were affected by slaveries treacherous tentacles. These characters have a way of making you love and dislike them all within a few turns of a chapter. I could not read it fast enough and was sad when it ended.
I truly enjoyed this tale of the lives that were affected by slaveries treacherous tentacles. These characters have a way of making you love and dislike them all within a few turns of a chapter. I could not read it fast enough and was sad when it ended.
June 17, 2017
Spinning Jenny
Nicely written novel, I really enjoyed Cornelius Carson's character. He was a very decent man, with a conscious during a time when it is unheard of. Great spin on what becomes of his family. I wonder if there will be a sequel.
Nicely written novel, I really enjoyed Cornelius Carson's character. He was a very decent man, with a conscious during a time when it is unheard of. Great spin on what becomes of his family. I wonder if there will be a sequel.
June 24, 2017
I loved this book. I can't read the slavery books where the slaves are treated so badly, but this book maybe accurately portrayed how some people did not like slavery and yet owned slaves. It is a very well done book.
August 1, 2018
Book was ok...I guess I’m still looking for one that takes me away like the @kitchen house”
November 15, 2022
Anti-climatic
Even with the message …. The characters are never fully developed. I felt this book had too many climaxes that fell flat.
Even with the message …. The characters are never fully developed. I felt this book had too many climaxes that fell flat.
August 2, 2020
This was a well written "slice of life" story about the save-holding South in the 1830s in Mississippi. The main white character, Cornilius Conrad, is a young man who doesn't like slavery, but does want to make a go of it as a cotton farmer, which he can't do without slaves. So he has two of them: Malachi, an old man who is getting too old to work, and Jenny, who he buys at 8 years old because he is worried about what will happen to her if he doesn't. The story revolves around Jenny, and takes the reader into life in the 1830s, explaining the ins and outs of slave-holding society from the inside out.
Cornelius makes some poor decisions about women, mostly due to his youth and his loneliness. Some of the other characters live with their poor decisions, too, one of which causes Cornelius' wife's father to go crazy (syphilis). The slave characters are well drawn and their lives and suffering realistic.
The title, Spinning Jenny, feels to me like it refers to how Jenny holds the story and the other characters together, how she spins through the story, always at its center. She means more to Cornelius than anyone else in his life. She is the woman he loves most, but he can't love her because she is a slave and a black woman. Sylvia Ann McLain 'spins' a very enlightening tale with Jenny at its center. It is an especially good story to read now, in light of how our country still struggles with giving people of color their rightful and respected free place in American society.
Cornelius makes some poor decisions about women, mostly due to his youth and his loneliness. Some of the other characters live with their poor decisions, too, one of which causes Cornelius' wife's father to go crazy (syphilis). The slave characters are well drawn and their lives and suffering realistic.
The title, Spinning Jenny, feels to me like it refers to how Jenny holds the story and the other characters together, how she spins through the story, always at its center. She means more to Cornelius than anyone else in his life. She is the woman he loves most, but he can't love her because she is a slave and a black woman. Sylvia Ann McLain 'spins' a very enlightening tale with Jenny at its center. It is an especially good story to read now, in light of how our country still struggles with giving people of color their rightful and respected free place in American society.
May 7, 2021
A different sort of book for me, this one addresses the issue of owning slaves in the early 1800's.
Book One of the Spinning Jenny series:
"I guess I'll name you Jenny, something I can say easy. That was my mammy's name, anyway. Jenny. You be Jenny from now on..."
Cornelius Carson's mother cautioned him never to own slaves, but in 1830s Louisiana, land and slaves are proof of a man's worth. At 23 Cornelius is ambitious, and in love. He owns one elderly slave, Malachi, and a small cotton farm along Bayou Cocodrie. And he plans to marry Stephanie Coqterre, daughter of a wealthy Natchez planter. He needs another field-hand, but prices are high. So when a trader brings a coffle of smuggled slaves to Natchez, Cornelius buys a 10-year-old girl. She is mute and nameless, but she's all he can afford. He names her Jenny.
It quickly becomes apparent that Jenny will change life on the Cocodrie as much as it changes her. The winds of ambition are blowing everywhere, both among the whites, who strive for wealth and status, and among the slaves, who yearn for freedom.
But dangers are everywhere, too. As madness and treachery reach from Natchez to the Cocodrie to blast all their dreams, Cornelius struggles to find a way to salvage his life and the lives of Jenny and Malachi as well." synopsis copied
Book One of the Spinning Jenny series:
"I guess I'll name you Jenny, something I can say easy. That was my mammy's name, anyway. Jenny. You be Jenny from now on..."
Cornelius Carson's mother cautioned him never to own slaves, but in 1830s Louisiana, land and slaves are proof of a man's worth. At 23 Cornelius is ambitious, and in love. He owns one elderly slave, Malachi, and a small cotton farm along Bayou Cocodrie. And he plans to marry Stephanie Coqterre, daughter of a wealthy Natchez planter. He needs another field-hand, but prices are high. So when a trader brings a coffle of smuggled slaves to Natchez, Cornelius buys a 10-year-old girl. She is mute and nameless, but she's all he can afford. He names her Jenny.
It quickly becomes apparent that Jenny will change life on the Cocodrie as much as it changes her. The winds of ambition are blowing everywhere, both among the whites, who strive for wealth and status, and among the slaves, who yearn for freedom.
But dangers are everywhere, too. As madness and treachery reach from Natchez to the Cocodrie to blast all their dreams, Cornelius struggles to find a way to salvage his life and the lives of Jenny and Malachi as well." synopsis copied
April 19, 2024
A real and sobering look at slavery
This book was very well written. Slow but interesting enough to keep the reader engaged. It deals with the dilemma many poor people of the south faced. Trying to work a land that was unforgiving and yet hoping it yielded enough to make them a fine living. Knowing also that the more they planted the more they needed cheap labor and the cheapest was of course the purchase of a slave. But in a land that was hard and unforgiving it made many people hard and unforgiving as well. Yet some maintained their humanity. Cornelius was one of them. The author was able to draw a vivid picture of the human spirit. That which is broken and that which held on. A good read with well developed characters. A solid ending which was both heartwarming and humbling.
This book was very well written. Slow but interesting enough to keep the reader engaged. It deals with the dilemma many poor people of the south faced. Trying to work a land that was unforgiving and yet hoping it yielded enough to make them a fine living. Knowing also that the more they planted the more they needed cheap labor and the cheapest was of course the purchase of a slave. But in a land that was hard and unforgiving it made many people hard and unforgiving as well. Yet some maintained their humanity. Cornelius was one of them. The author was able to draw a vivid picture of the human spirit. That which is broken and that which held on. A good read with well developed characters. A solid ending which was both heartwarming and humbling.
March 21, 2021
Nothing good can come from enslaving another human being.
I really enjoyed this book. Cornelius Carson was a good man. Good to his slaves. Kind hearted. But still, Carson depended on slavery to do the hard labor involved in running a cotton plantation. Slavery seemed the answer to both the white man's need for laborers and the black man's inability to survive without rights and education. I hoped Carson and Jenny would form a husband/wife relationship , but that Kind of thinking would be senseless dreaming in that time period. Jenny does find freedom, but at a price.
I really enjoyed this book. Cornelius Carson was a good man. Good to his slaves. Kind hearted. But still, Carson depended on slavery to do the hard labor involved in running a cotton plantation. Slavery seemed the answer to both the white man's need for laborers and the black man's inability to survive without rights and education. I hoped Carson and Jenny would form a husband/wife relationship , but that Kind of thinking would be senseless dreaming in that time period. Jenny does find freedom, but at a price.
June 13, 2022
Hard Times
This story tells the journey of a young slave girl, her master and the many people who enter their lives over the years. It delves into how slavery impacts each of them, and how their views of it change. The plot often has a rambling quality, not a big story arc, but it's still very interesting. It could do with fewer points of view, keeping it to the three main characters which would have helped keep the story a little more focused. Was delighted to see there is a sequel, which I'll read right away.
This story tells the journey of a young slave girl, her master and the many people who enter their lives over the years. It delves into how slavery impacts each of them, and how their views of it change. The plot often has a rambling quality, not a big story arc, but it's still very interesting. It could do with fewer points of view, keeping it to the three main characters which would have helped keep the story a little more focused. Was delighted to see there is a sequel, which I'll read right away.
January 23, 2026
Goodreads tells me 2 stars = "It was OK," and that's the most I can say. This story just skimmed the surface of its subjects and characters. It generally claimed slavery was bad but the "heroine" refused her initial chance to escape bondage because she was so content. The novel also claimed that slavery was just as bad for the enslavers, moral corruption, etc. Sigh. Occasionally, there were some lovely descriptions of the setting, but it almost felt like these were inserted by another writer. The unedited AI narration did not improve matters.
October 2, 2021
Wonderful story
I love Jenny and I can't imagine being a slave. The hard life and being sold away from your parents, siblings, husband, children and hard working from morning till night. But the worst part would be considered an object not a individual human being. To have absolutely no control over your own life. I highly recommend you read this story and continue ok with this series.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💖💖💖💖💖💖
I love Jenny and I can't imagine being a slave. The hard life and being sold away from your parents, siblings, husband, children and hard working from morning till night. But the worst part would be considered an object not a individual human being. To have absolutely no control over your own life. I highly recommend you read this story and continue ok with this series.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💖💖💖💖💖💖
December 10, 2022
Compassionate Tale
This book drew me in immediately. Cornelius was a man of compassion and integrity in an era where he didn’t have to be. He longed for better, even for his slaves and he risked everything to care for the ones he loved, even though that wasn’t a popular stance. Great read, especially with the name Stephanie and a happy ending headed for Cincinnati-my hometown. Loved this!
This book drew me in immediately. Cornelius was a man of compassion and integrity in an era where he didn’t have to be. He longed for better, even for his slaves and he risked everything to care for the ones he loved, even though that wasn’t a popular stance. Great read, especially with the name Stephanie and a happy ending headed for Cincinnati-my hometown. Loved this!
August 2, 2024
Excellent book. Easy to read, but not light in substance. Much better than most slave stories of stereotypical rich slave owners that beat and tortured their slaves. Much more realistic feeling story of a relatively poor reluctant slave owner who developed a human relationship with his two slaves. Explored the hopes, dreams, and musings of both slave and slave owner. All characters were believable humans.
October 9, 2025
I very much enjoyed this first novel by Ms. McLain. She does a good job of developing the characters and you are pulled into their stories. It tells of a young planter who owns two slaves in the late 1830’s. One is an old man and the other a young girl. They all work his cotten farm together and Cornelius sees the evil of slavery. As hardship and tragedy befall the characters, I couldn’t help but be drawn into their lives. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
September 1, 2017
A book for the times
This book should be read by and too any person who ask why the statues in the South of confederate hero's ( if that what you want to call them) should be taken down and put into museums to tell the story of slavery. Not in public to remind people how awful and degrading slavery ready (is /was)?????
This book should be read by and too any person who ask why the statues in the South of confederate hero's ( if that what you want to call them) should be taken down and put into museums to tell the story of slavery. Not in public to remind people how awful and degrading slavery ready (is /was)?????
June 20, 2019
This book is true to real life.
I enjoyed this book for it's realism and the flow of the story. It was hard to put down because you couldn't guess what was going to happen next. I liked the man in this story. Some of the women were weak and some like Jenny were strong. I have been reading antebellum historical novels lately and this is the best one so far.
I enjoyed this book for it's realism and the flow of the story. It was hard to put down because you couldn't guess what was going to happen next. I liked the man in this story. Some of the women were weak and some like Jenny were strong. I have been reading antebellum historical novels lately and this is the best one so far.
July 8, 2025
I listened to this book on audio. Did not like the virtual voice that read it. Pronounced words wrong and did not accent the correct words in a sentence. It was very distracting. Having said that, the book itself was OK. I don’t think the title actually fit The storyline, but I enjoyed the story for the most part.
August 12, 2017
Good read
This book was easy to read and kept me interested. Anyone who enjoys reading about the slavery days will enjoy reading how one man with a good heart retreated his slaves like people not property.
This book was easy to read and kept me interested. Anyone who enjoys reading about the slavery days will enjoy reading how one man with a good heart retreated his slaves like people not property.
October 29, 2017
Very Good!
A very good "slave story" with a somewhat surprise ending. Centers around time when slavery was about ended. Recommend to all that enjoy that sort of story, even though it seems a little inaccurate with details.
I
A very good "slave story" with a somewhat surprise ending. Centers around time when slavery was about ended. Recommend to all that enjoy that sort of story, even though it seems a little inaccurate with details.
I
April 2, 2018
I never start a book I don't finish!
I have this book a two star rating. I found it lacking. Little emotion. Weak story plot. Having just read Yellow Crocus by Ibrihim....I just found it flat! Patricia LaDuke
I have this book a two star rating. I found it lacking. Little emotion. Weak story plot. Having just read Yellow Crocus by Ibrihim....I just found it flat! Patricia LaDuke
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews