An Honest Fame: The Story of Robert and Sally Townsend

by Amber Leigh

Witness the birth of our country through the lives of two unlikely heroes...

Robert and Sally Townsend, children of a prominent Long Island Quaker, have simple goals. Robert wishes for an independent life as a merchant in New York City, and Sally hopes to become the accomplished young lady she's long striven to be. But escalating tensions between the colonies and Britain interrupt their plans, upending life as they have always known it.

They see their father, outnumbered and opposed by his Loyalist neighbors, struggle for the Patriot cause as war looms ever nearer. Then the British arrive, invading and conquering New York City, Long Island...and the Townsend home.

After returning to work in a vanquished city, Robert fights the enemy with the only weapon at his disposal—deception. Compromising his Quaker honesty, he joins a ring of spies in the employ of George Washington. He tries his best to continue life as usual, ferreting out secrets while living in constant fear of discovery.

Sally, meanwhile, conceals her anger with smiles as she and her family cater to their enemies’ whims. Then comes a day when her smiles are no longer forced, and her enemies become her friends. When she loses her heart to a British officer, she wonders whether she can be loyal to him and to her country at the same time.

An Honest Fame: The Story of Robert and Sally Townsend is a retelling, both epic and intimate, of the tale of these two real-life siblings. Their coming-of-age takes place during a time of immense upheaval, during which they influence the course of events in ways they never expected.

1054 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2020

About the author

An enthusiastic reader of historical novels and biographies since the age of ten, Amber Leigh did not at first expect to be a novelist herself. After ghostwriting a three-part series, she completed her first full-length work of stand-alone fiction, An Honest Fame. Amber holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, and later earned a Master of Arts in Documentary Film and History from Syracuse University. She lives in the Midwest.

Reviews

[Laurel Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great historical novel! I haved always loved reading about this unique war and about those who have impacted history. The Townsend family were one of these. Quakers who were not afraid to get involved and were truly some of the unsung heros of their time. Leigh did a great job bringing these people to life and I completely enjoyed their story.

[Valerie Stenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Honest Fame takes place before, during and after the Revolutionary War also briefly touching on the War of 1812. It is told from the viewpoint of a family of Quakers, the Townsend family. It is an interesting viewpoint to take since Quakers are known pacifists. I feel like the history of that time period is almost always told from larger names in history and it loses some of what it was like living day to day through such turbulent times. That alone made it an interesting read, especially since the author did her homework, and the amount of research that went into this book really shows.

The two main characters it follows are the siblings Robert and Sally (Sarah) Townsend. Robert eventually goes against his Quaker upbringing and chooses to become a spy for Washington. He enters into this partially due to his perfect location as a merchant in New York and his own desire to help his country win the war. It follows him through the war and then with his tragic romance and recovery afterward. His character is interesting because in a lot of ways he is very conflicted with his choices, and he does not always make the correct ones. In that way he is very relatable and a fun character to read. Sally's story is a little different. Her story tells more of the family life that they had to endure to stay safe during the British occupation. I was not aware of how often British troops were living with residents around the New York area and what a cost that would have been for the families involved. She eventually also has a rather sad and tragic romance, and in this way she parallels her brother's story. Neither sibling ever marries again, and they remain haunted by what happened during the war.

The book eventually ends with the passing away of both the main characters. It does give a full and complete accounting of their lives. If you are interested in historical fiction this would be a good book to pick up. Not only do you learn details of that time period, you get to follow two unique and interesting characters. For a first large novel the author did an excellent job. Any books from her in the future would be something to keep a watch for, especially if you are a fan of the genre.

[Peter Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber Leigh is an extremely accomplished writer as evidenced by her masterful epic, "An Honest Fame: The Story of Robert and Sally Townsend." I thoroughly enjoyed this book, one of the best contemporary accounts of historical events that I have ever read. The story follows the arc of one prominent family's experience before, during and after the American Revolution. The main character is Robert Townsend, an aspiring merchant from Oyster Bay, Long Island who eventually sets up shop on Manhattan during the pre-Revolutionary years of the 18th century. Robert is a middle child within a large, well-respected family who have enjoyed social, political and financial status over several generations. He is often overshadowed by other family members, such as his illustrious father and older brother, as well as three attractive younger sisters. Soon Robert, along with his family, friends, and neighbors, are embroiled in the divisive degradation of the American Revolution, along with an accompanying enemy occupation of the city, Long Island and even their family homestead. British officers flirt with Robert's younger sisters while New York and the colonies sink into chaos, trauma and the fog of war. Introverted Robert, posing as a Loyalist, becomes a reluctant spy for the American cause, eventually becoming a key member of General Washington's crucial Culper Spy Ring network. Can Robert's attractive sister Sally, the subject of a British officer's affections, help with her brother's espionage efforts? Read "An Honest Fame" for a fascinating, scholarly account of the pivotal events which helped create our nation. Especially enjoyable is the author's attention to historical detail and the dynamics which play out within an extended family and the surrounding communities. The author is adept at character development and building layers of intrigue and suspense which accompany the storyline, especially with regards to the dangerous espionage efforts of ordinary citizens during the American Revolution. This work is an incredible mix of true events, told with a high level of historical accuracy, mixed with minor bits of wonderfully inventive period fiction. It would easily lend itself to be made into an enjoyable and educational multi-part film series. This book offers an incredible glimpse into what life was like for ordinary citizens experiencing the extraordinary events taking place during the American Revolution. I highly recommend this excellent novel.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read for TURN fans!

Ever since watching TURN, I’ve been reading all the books I could read about the revolutionary war. This one has been the best so far!! It gives details about life before the war and after the war that were very interesting! This book follows my favorite character of TURN, Robert Townsend. It starts before the war and ends with his death. And it’s filled with all kinds of details about his life and family life and his brothers and sisters and the war and all kinds of those little details that TURN left out. Like who knew he had all those brothers and sisters! The book is wonderfully long and starts out at a kind of slow pace but keep reading! I was hooked after the first few chapters. You will grow to love these characters! And this is a true story! I’m currently ready Washington’s Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade and it’s goes along exactly with this book! It’s a whole lot of fact and a little bit of fiction, but absolutely wonderful!!! I’ve actually started reading it again because I got so attached to the characters I’m just not ready to let them go quite yet. Thank you Amber Leigh for such an outstanding book!!! Would give it a million stars if I could!!!

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the Culper Spy Ring that operated during the Revolutionary War under George Washington. This story is fictionalized as many things have been lost to history. Robert Townsend was Culper Jr. and used his business interests to spy on the British. The Townsend family was subjected to billeting (having soldiers board in their home). It was through this that they were able to obtain information. His sister, Sally who lived at home (the Homestead), would pass on information to her brother that she felt was important. This was an excellent story.

[Luna Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Honest Fame masterfully weaves history and emotion into a gripping tale of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. Through Robert and Sally Townsend’s journey, readers experience the raw tension of war, the weight of secrets, and the complexity of love in turbulent times. A beautifully written and immersive historical novel that brings the past to life with vivid detail and heartfelt storytelling. Highly recommended!

[Sharon K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it immensely!

[Brenda Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great story!!!!! The characters come to life and you feel as if you are truly drawn into another time and that they are part of your own personal reality. So much wonderful detail and amazing story-telling. I was swept away!!
***I have to add that this book has touched me so deeply, it's almost what I would consider a "life-changer". You will also be needing a box of tissues!