Remember the Morning

by Thomas Fleming

In pre-Revolutionary America, two women, one black and one white, are captured by Seneca Indians and adopted into the tribe, but when they return to a white world at the age of seventeen, the black woman becomes the white woman's slave, and their lives become a tangled mess.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Native Americans, Romance, Historical

544 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Thomas James Fleming was an historian and historical novelist, with a special interest in the American Revolution. He was born in 1927 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of a World War I hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades. Before her marriage, his mother, Katherine Dolan Fleming, was a teacher in the Jersey City Public School System.

After graduating from St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, Fleming spent a year in the United States Navy. He received a Bachelor's degree, with honors, from Fordham University in 1950. After brief stints as a newspaperman and magazine editor, he became a full-time writer in 1960. His first history book, Now We Are Enemies, an account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, was published that same year. It was a best-seller, reviewed in more than 75 newspapers and featured as a main selection of the Literary Guild.

Fleming published books about various events and figures of the Revolutionary era. He also wrote about other periods of American history and wrote over a dozen well-received novels set against various historical backgrounds. He said, "I never wanted to be an Irish American writer, my whole idea was to get across that bridge and be an American writer".

Fleming died at his home in New York City on July 23, 2017, at the age of 90.

Reviews

[Susan Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are at all interested in American History, you need to read this book. Remember the Morning is told in the voice of Catalyntie, a Dutch woman in pre-Revolutionary America. The main characters are Catalyntie, Clara (a black woman who has been with her all their lives) and Malcolm (son of English immigrants). If Remember the Morning was merely about this trio, it would have been entertaining. However, the true story of the book is America - before it was America. That makes Remember the Morning important.

Intertwined in the lives of the main characters is rich vivid history. Dutch, English, French, Indian and African all played a part in creating America. Remember the Morning helps explain how life was after the English took over from the Dutch. France and England fought over the land, trading rights and even the Indians. The Africans struggled for their freedom. The Catholics worshipped in secret and wished for their own freedom.

Fleming writes wonderfully. He's taken the facts of American history and made them the background to a good story. You hardly realize that you're learning something. Not to worry, Fleming is a distinguished historian - the story is there to enhance the history, not the other way around, as most books are.

In the end, Remember the Morning is about a group of people struggling for their identity. The people they become - Americans - shaped the world we all live in today.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having enjoyed "Spoils of War," I was hoping for another good historical fiction book. This one, however, was disappointing for me. The premise of this pre-Revolutionary War book was good: two young girls survived an Indian massacre of their families (other siblings also survived but then died during captivity) and were then integrated into the tribe. After a number of years, the young women were part of a treaty that resulted in them being turned over to the white people. (This brought another "complication," as one of the girls was actually a slave--but didn't even know it.) The book gives that background and then moves into what happens to the young women as they enter the world of the white man.

The main problem for me was that I just did not like any of the main characters: Catalyntie (the white woman), Clara (the black woman), or Malcolm (the white rescuer whom both women came to love). Catalyntie became a woman focused on materialism and getting what she wanted. Though Clara showed more care and concern for others, she also showed some of her own selfishness, particularly when it related to Malcolm. And Malcolm--sorry, but I did not care for him (and his choices!) at all!

I plan to read at least one more of Thomas Fleming's books about the Stapleton family. Hopefully, I'll like the next one more than I liked this one!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read quite a bit of Thomas Fleming's fiction and nonfiction, so I had great hopes for this one. This didn't live up to my expectations in any way. There were few characters in the main cast that I could bring myself to care about. The main character was a girl/woman whose best attributes made her seem like Scarlet O'Hara, bent on having her own way, making tons of money and not caring about her friends at all. She did indicate occasionally that this was troubling to her, but that didn't stop her from continuing her rampage. Her love interest wasn't even as interesting as Ashley Wilkes, with clay feet from beginning to end. Even the triangle love interest/best friend seems unwilling to let go of these two, though her options are more limited by being a slave/freewoman in a time of slavery within the U.S. I made it through to the end, hoping someone would have enough character development to make the book worthwhile, but I was disappointed.

[Judy K. Swisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was way too much history and detail in this story to keep it all straight. It was an interesting look at a friendship between the two female characters, Catalyntie and Clara. But at times Catalyntie was too pathetic for words... sleezing herself out for Malcom, who loved Clara. The footnotes were helpful, but really the only reason I completed this book was because I'd paid for it!

[Jordan Maloney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not go out of my way to read this one. Some of the characters are randomly unlikeable and the plot can become difficult to navigate at times. I also feel like big moments were not given enough time to breathe.

[Cheryl Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting history. Characters lacked depth. I would read another in the series for the history aspect.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book at a garage sale and although I was already in the middle of one book (Trading Up) I picked up Remember the Morning and started reading. I was definitely intrigued by this story set primarily in 1700’s New York. But, the characters are hideous and there are no beloved heroes. And, there is a LOT of history. I skimmed through most of the battles, wars, treaties, etc. The story is set around Catalyntie and Clara who are both taken captive by Indians at age 5 and then given back to the white man when the girls are 17. Most of the book takes place as the two women are adults who are trying to survive as America is being born. The story spans about 30 years although I’m not sure about that since the author doesn’t use dates to keep track of the time. I definitely recommend this book if you’re a historical fiction buff and want to learn more about pre-revolutionary America.

[Bob Lafary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed emotions about this book--therefore, I gave it a three. I learned things that I didn't already know about our Colonial Period; but too many times during the book, the writing really bogged down into dry pages of little interest. I love reading books pertaining to our pre-revolutionary time; and at times, the work delivered enough good story lines to keep my going. It wasn't a great read; but I am glad that I did read it. As I said: I have mixed emotions about this book. With that being said, it did interest me enough to want to read more of Mr. Fleming's works. So I did track down four other of his historical fiction novels; I bought them; and I shall read them--just not right now.

[JennanneJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed in this book. Though I often enjoy historical fiction, this one didn't really appeal to me. The characters were really morally depraved and mostly unlikable. The romantic triangle drove me nuts with the asking and allowing and apologizing and resentment and malice. I just wanted to smack them all.

However, I did have to read to the end to see how it all turned out. (After being stuck with nothing else to read today for the first 300 pages.)

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, however it drags in some spots. It is very informative and the story was full of interpersonal struggles but it tended to dwell on these. I was glad I read the book, it furthered my knowledge of the French & Indian War greatly. The barometer for me as to if a book is a 3,4 or 5 star is how anxious I am to read it. This was a 31/2 star book as far as I'm concerned.

[Elaine Cougler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember the Morning by Thomas Fleming marries together a black girl and a Dutch girl, European colonialism and new American patriotism, with Seneca/Indian life versus European descendants' life in the colonies. A TALL order. But Fleming does it well. The retrospective quality lends veracity to the telling but I most liked how Catalyrtie was a very flawed, yet still likable character.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by Thomas Fleming. It makes me want to learn more about Native Americans interactions with the Dutch, French and English, loved that there were historical real life characters in his book!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a story of friendships and insecurities that spanned decades. It wasn't what I expected, but I still thought it was pretty good nonetheless.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was overall good. There were parts that I really loved reading and other parts that just dragged along. Great story, too long. Interesting though.

[Susan Tietjen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually didn't finish this book. I like some of the so-called classics a lot, but this one just didn't do it for me.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book in 2007.
It was an ok read but somewhat slow paced.

[Booknblues · Rating 3 out of 5]

a moving story of America, before the revolution.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 out of 3 stars

[David Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on real diaries. Great read.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read! Rich in Pre-Revolutionary war history and well written.