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My Theodosia: A Novel
MP3 CD Format Anya Seton's bestselling first novel, originally published in 1941, captures all the drama of the short life of Theodosia Burr (1783-1813). Her father, Aaron--Thomas Jefferson's vice president, most famous for his great duel with Alexander Hamilton--holds sway over young Theodosia's heart. But his arrogance forces her to choose between the man he insists she marry and her love for a young soldier who will turn out to play a decisive role in her father's fate. Persuaded by Aaron that through his treasonable plans she will soon be crowned princess of the Kingdom of Mexico, she is received like royalty on Blennerhassett Island, only to end up trying to exonerate her father as he awaits trial in a Richmond jail, repudiated by his fickle son-in-law and friends.
Theodosia remains a haunting figure in American history, still lovely, still imperious, never vanquished.
Theodosia remains a haunting figure in American history, still lovely, still imperious, never vanquished.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 1941
170 people are currently reading
1418 people want to read
About the author
Anya Seton
39 books950 followersAnya Seton (January 23, 1904 (although the year is often misstated to be 1906 or 1916) - November 8, 1990) was the pen name of the American author of historical romances, Ann Seton.
Ann Seton was born in New York, and died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. She was the daughter of English-born naturalist and pioneer of the Boy Scouts of America, Ernest Thompson Seton and Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson. She is interred at Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich.
Her historical novels were noted for how extensively she researched the historical facts, and some of them were best-sellers.[citation needed] Dragonwyck (1941) and Foxfire (1950) were both made into Hollywood films. Two of her books are classics in their genre and continue in their popularity to the present; Katherine, the story of Katherine Swynford, the mistress and eventual wife of John of Gaunt, and their children, who eventually became the basis for the Tudor and Stuart families of England, and Green Darkness, the story of a modern couple plagued by their past life incarnations. Most of her novels have been recently republished, several with forewords by Philippa Gregory.
Her novel Devil Water concerns James, the luckless Earl of Derwentwater and his involvement with the Jacobite rising of 1715. She also narrates the story of his brother Charles, beheaded after the 1745 rebellion, the last man to die for the cause. The action of the novel moves back and forth between Northumberland, Tyneside, London and America.
Anya Seton stated that the book developed out of her love for Northumberland. Anya certainly visited her Snowdon cousins at Felton. Billy Pigg, the celebrated Northumbrian piper played 'Derwentwater's Farewell' especially for her. The novel shows her typical thorough research of events and places, though the accents are a little wayward. Anya Seton said that her greatest debt of all was to Miss Amy Flagg of Westoe Village in South Shields, her father's birthplace.
Ann Seton was born in New York, and died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. She was the daughter of English-born naturalist and pioneer of the Boy Scouts of America, Ernest Thompson Seton and Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson. She is interred at Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich.
Her historical novels were noted for how extensively she researched the historical facts, and some of them were best-sellers.[citation needed] Dragonwyck (1941) and Foxfire (1950) were both made into Hollywood films. Two of her books are classics in their genre and continue in their popularity to the present; Katherine, the story of Katherine Swynford, the mistress and eventual wife of John of Gaunt, and their children, who eventually became the basis for the Tudor and Stuart families of England, and Green Darkness, the story of a modern couple plagued by their past life incarnations. Most of her novels have been recently republished, several with forewords by Philippa Gregory.
Her novel Devil Water concerns James, the luckless Earl of Derwentwater and his involvement with the Jacobite rising of 1715. She also narrates the story of his brother Charles, beheaded after the 1745 rebellion, the last man to die for the cause. The action of the novel moves back and forth between Northumberland, Tyneside, London and America.
Anya Seton stated that the book developed out of her love for Northumberland. Anya certainly visited her Snowdon cousins at Felton. Billy Pigg, the celebrated Northumbrian piper played 'Derwentwater's Farewell' especially for her. The novel shows her typical thorough research of events and places, though the accents are a little wayward. Anya Seton said that her greatest debt of all was to Miss Amy Flagg of Westoe Village in South Shields, her father's birthplace.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
March 6, 2023
2.5 stars rated up for this debut novel by Anya Seton written in 1941. I knew nothing about Aaron Burr's daughter -Theodosia Burr Alston, and was somewhat surprised at the story and wonder how much was based in fact. There was no author's note about her research on the topic, other than a comment about letters between father & daughter. Their attachment to one another seemed a little odd to me, but despite Burr's dotage on Theodosia he still uses her to support his own ambitions. She is completely blind to any of his flaws and one thing that annoyed me was that blind loyalty, and her reactions to others when Burr is criticized. It speaks to her naivety that lasted into her late 20's.
I did feel sympathy for her when she is married off to a southern plantation owner and thrown into a world for which she was ill-prepared.
Is there any support for the idea that she and Meriweather Lewis had a dalliance?
This read like a YA novel but perhaps that was just a writing style of the times. I usually am not bothered by racist tropes in literature that was written in the past or about a time in history when that was the perception about other races by the white population; but I was troubled by it in this novel. Maybe because there was such the frequent usage of the N word and other stereotype descriptions. The author could have made her point about life in the South & slavery without the constant condescending descriptions. Now, who is being naive?
I did feel sympathy for her when she is married off to a southern plantation owner and thrown into a world for which she was ill-prepared.
Is there any support for the idea that she and Meriweather Lewis had a dalliance?
This read like a YA novel but perhaps that was just a writing style of the times. I usually am not bothered by racist tropes in literature that was written in the past or about a time in history when that was the perception about other races by the white population; but I was troubled by it in this novel. Maybe because there was such the frequent usage of the N word and other stereotype descriptions. The author could have made her point about life in the South & slavery without the constant condescending descriptions. Now, who is being naive?
May 10, 2016
For my Hamilton fanatic friends!
After seeing the Hamilton musical in November, I wanted to reread this historical novel about Burr's daughter. It is not as well known as Katherine and Green Darkness but is a poignant and very readable story.
Here is a link to my review: http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/201...
After seeing the Hamilton musical in November, I wanted to reread this historical novel about Burr's daughter. It is not as well known as Katherine and Green Darkness but is a poignant and very readable story.
Here is a link to my review: http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/201...
August 20, 2008
A solid first outing for Seton. This book tells the story of Aaron Burr and his daughter Theodosia (Theo). I have to admit I didn't recall much of Burr from history class outside of the duel with Alexander Hamilton. At the start of the book Theo is 17 and Burr is vice president of the United States. Burr plots to have Theo married to the wealthy but uninteresting Joseph Alston of South Carolina. Burr needs some of that money to cover his debts and also the power of the Alstons to gain him political support in the south. The relationship between Burr and Theo is closer than most father/daughter relationships and Burr is able to manipulate Theo into his increasingly risky and treasonous schemes that distance her ever further from any satisfying relationship she might forge with her husband, and her greatest joy in life is her young son.
There are lots of well known names in the story as Theo interacts with them -- Washington Irving (a minor character), Meriwether Lewis (sigh!), Dolly Madison, Alexander Hamilton and more. I love the way she sets her scenes and writes the various dialects, it's like you really hear them as they would be spoken. Her characters could have been fleshed out better, there is so much subject material in the Burr story and it's twists and turns that could be turned into a gloriously fat and meaty work of historical fiction. Writers out there -- HINT HINT HINT.
Be advised that if you read up on Aaron and Theo on the internet prior to finishing the book you will end up with some spoilers on your hands. However, do look Theo up afterwards and the legends surrounding her mysterious disappearance and the strange ghost that haunts a Carolina shore. Lastly, I was very glad there was not another forward by Philppa Gregory. The one she wrote for Devil Water and the way she obsessed about the too close relationship between father and daughter really irked me to no end.
There are lots of well known names in the story as Theo interacts with them -- Washington Irving (a minor character), Meriwether Lewis (sigh!), Dolly Madison, Alexander Hamilton and more. I love the way she sets her scenes and writes the various dialects, it's like you really hear them as they would be spoken. Her characters could have been fleshed out better, there is so much subject material in the Burr story and it's twists and turns that could be turned into a gloriously fat and meaty work of historical fiction. Writers out there -- HINT HINT HINT.
Be advised that if you read up on Aaron and Theo on the internet prior to finishing the book you will end up with some spoilers on your hands. However, do look Theo up afterwards and the legends surrounding her mysterious disappearance and the strange ghost that haunts a Carolina shore. Lastly, I was very glad there was not another forward by Philppa Gregory. The one she wrote for Devil Water and the way she obsessed about the too close relationship between father and daughter really irked me to no end.
November 12, 2022
My Theodosia is a well-written and informative story presumably about Theodosia Burr but which was actually more about Aaron Burr, using Theodosia as a cover.
I learned a lot about Aaron Burr and he was cast in a more balanced light than in My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. My only issue was that I was expecting to be more attached to Theodosia. The way Seton portrays her relationship with her father is quite icky, making her hard to relate to; but way worse than that was how this portrayal made her seem blindly stupid! She was well read, highly educated, and never though anything was fishy? She could have had a discerning mind and had an idea of what her father was like and still been loyal to him. I would have preferred that version. I did enjoy how Seton laid out the contrast of North and South.
Good for a first novel and, as a mega Seton fan, I'm glad I read it, but other books of hers are better.
I learned a lot about Aaron Burr and he was cast in a more balanced light than in My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. My only issue was that I was expecting to be more attached to Theodosia. The way Seton portrays her relationship with her father is quite icky, making her hard to relate to; but way worse than that was how this portrayal made her seem blindly stupid! She was well read, highly educated, and never though anything was fishy? She could have had a discerning mind and had an idea of what her father was like and still been loyal to him. I would have preferred that version. I did enjoy how Seton laid out the contrast of North and South.
Good for a first novel and, as a mega Seton fan, I'm glad I read it, but other books of hers are better.
March 2, 2017
Meh. Whatever. It's been...how long, 2 days(?) since I set this down, & I have no desire whatsoever to pick it up again.
Full disclosure: it's difficult enough getting me into Founding Fathers fiction, so the combination of a slow story with historical name-dropping + obnoxious MCs is virtually guaranteed to kill my interest. (Sorry, all ye Hamilton fans, but IMO it's an unglamorous era & pales in comparison to European history of the period. Zzz.)
Re: the obnoxious MCs, Burr's creepitude & Theo's blind devotion might well be accurate (I don't claim to be well-versed in Founders' psychology), but it sure is annoying to read about. And the slow pace is excruciating -- they finally arrived at the bloody plantation, which should have piqued my interest, but by then it was pg 129 & I just DID NOT CARE.
Bye-bye.
NB: This is my fifth Seton novel. Two I've liked; three I haven't cared for. Maybe someday I'll attempt Katherine or Winthrop Woman, but who knows. *shrug*
Full disclosure: it's difficult enough getting me into Founding Fathers fiction, so the combination of a slow story with historical name-dropping + obnoxious MCs is virtually guaranteed to kill my interest. (Sorry, all ye Hamilton fans, but IMO it's an unglamorous era & pales in comparison to European history of the period. Zzz.)
Re: the obnoxious MCs, Burr's creepitude & Theo's blind devotion might well be accurate (I don't claim to be well-versed in Founders' psychology), but it sure is annoying to read about. And the slow pace is excruciating -- they finally arrived at the bloody plantation, which should have piqued my interest, but by then it was pg 129 & I just DID NOT CARE.
Bye-bye.
NB: This is my fifth Seton novel. Two I've liked; three I haven't cared for. Maybe someday I'll attempt Katherine or Winthrop Woman, but who knows. *shrug*
July 2, 2010
Although I have read some of Anya Seton's novels before it was only now that I had the opportunity to read My Theodosia, her first published work. Reading about Theodosia Burr Alston made me realise that I seldom read books about American history and that my knowledge is indeed lacking in that department. Something I started working on as soon as I finished the book because I had to look up every real people mentioned and that I intend to continue by looking for more books with that setting.
Theodosia is the beloved daughter of Aaron Burr, America's Vice President from 1801 to 1805 under President Jefferson. The story starts on her seventeenth birthday and ends with what Seton believed was the event that led to her death.
Theodosia had an uncommon love for her father. Her mother died when she was still a child and she was raised by her father alone who took great care in her education. Her relationship with him shaped her whole life, she is at first hostess to his house parties and used to charm his friends and then married to cement his power in the south. She never ceases to support and accompany him in his various projects. I thought it interesting that Seton doesn't show Burr in a very good light, he manipulates his daughter, and everyone else around him, to his own ends and in doing so gives a great contribution to her tragic life. Theodosia goes from a happy girl in the beginning of this biography to an unhappy married woman who sees her love for another man crushed under her father's will. His convoluted life and especially the duel with Alexander Hamilton and the project for the Kingdom of Mexico also take their toll on Theodosia's life and health as do her private losses.
I must confess that what I loved more about the story was the glimpse I had of all these extraordinary people and how they lived. Since Theodosia goes to live in the South after her wedding there are many references to slavery and live in the plantations. Theodosia, while starting out as an engaging character ends up being too blind for too long to what her father really was - a charming scoundrel - and so set herself for much heartache. There's only so much you can take before you start pitying her.
Seton does a good job of grabbing historical figures and known facts and weaving them into fictional novels. The objects of her biographies are usually less known characters of history and that leaves her more freedom to fictionalise and romanticise their lives. Besides Theodosia there's Katherine Swynford (Katherine) and Elizabeth Fones (The Winthrop Woman). Her concern with historical accuracy and research was known but My Theodosia seems to be a highly fictional account of Theodosia's life, instead of being the final work about her it whetted my appetite for more. I was only sorry not to see more pages devoted to Theodosia's unusual education and the use she made of it. In all the references I found about her that is one of the things mentioned that set her apart from the other women of her time.
An interesting novel that should appeal to everyone interested in American history in general and Aaron Burr and his daughter in particular!
Grade: 4/5
Theodosia is the beloved daughter of Aaron Burr, America's Vice President from 1801 to 1805 under President Jefferson. The story starts on her seventeenth birthday and ends with what Seton believed was the event that led to her death.
Theodosia had an uncommon love for her father. Her mother died when she was still a child and she was raised by her father alone who took great care in her education. Her relationship with him shaped her whole life, she is at first hostess to his house parties and used to charm his friends and then married to cement his power in the south. She never ceases to support and accompany him in his various projects. I thought it interesting that Seton doesn't show Burr in a very good light, he manipulates his daughter, and everyone else around him, to his own ends and in doing so gives a great contribution to her tragic life. Theodosia goes from a happy girl in the beginning of this biography to an unhappy married woman who sees her love for another man crushed under her father's will. His convoluted life and especially the duel with Alexander Hamilton and the project for the Kingdom of Mexico also take their toll on Theodosia's life and health as do her private losses.
I must confess that what I loved more about the story was the glimpse I had of all these extraordinary people and how they lived. Since Theodosia goes to live in the South after her wedding there are many references to slavery and live in the plantations. Theodosia, while starting out as an engaging character ends up being too blind for too long to what her father really was - a charming scoundrel - and so set herself for much heartache. There's only so much you can take before you start pitying her.
Seton does a good job of grabbing historical figures and known facts and weaving them into fictional novels. The objects of her biographies are usually less known characters of history and that leaves her more freedom to fictionalise and romanticise their lives. Besides Theodosia there's Katherine Swynford (Katherine) and Elizabeth Fones (The Winthrop Woman). Her concern with historical accuracy and research was known but My Theodosia seems to be a highly fictional account of Theodosia's life, instead of being the final work about her it whetted my appetite for more. I was only sorry not to see more pages devoted to Theodosia's unusual education and the use she made of it. In all the references I found about her that is one of the things mentioned that set her apart from the other women of her time.
An interesting novel that should appeal to everyone interested in American history in general and Aaron Burr and his daughter in particular!
Grade: 4/5
November 5, 2022
But they were both caught. Equally helpless bits of jetsam on the forward-surging river of life.
On one hand, I didn't know Aaron Burr at all, so it was a really interesting historical fiction to me. On the other hand, I have a rather general knowledge of the history of the USA so sometimes I was overwhelmed by names, political connections, etc.
I was definitely interested in the story (the historical events, people, etc.). But I admit I missed a philosophical (psychological) part of Seton's stories. I didn't find here what was so great in The Winthrop Woman, Avalon and Devil Water.
It isn't an important factor in my rating of this book but still, the romantic part wasn't gripping. Although, Meriwether Lewis was a hero that I like to meet in books.
July 20, 2010
The only thing that prevented me from giving it one star is that I finished. I found the writing incredibly dated (I know it was written in the 1940's and set in the 1800's, but I found it unrealistically over the top). When the book was recommended to me, I was told "it's a lovely story about a father-daughter relationship", but I found it more along the lines of "emotional incest". The relationship between Theo and her father disgusted me - she was so blindly devoted to him that it overshadowed her entire life. Her father took advantage of that unconditional love over and over. I also disliked how other historical figured "just happened" to figure into the story - almost like name dropping. I don't think I'd recommend this story to any one under 40 years of age.
January 1, 2016
I love Anya Seton. This fictionalized biography of Theodosia Burr was her first novel. I didnt like it as much as her book "Katherine", but it was still good. It was really compelling in parts, but then slow in others. Theodosia's blind obedience to her father's wishes will infuriate you. I enjoyed reading about her plantation life, but felt sad that she married a man she didnt love to please her father. I found myself researching Theodosia Burr after reading this book.
July 6, 2019
This book is based on actual people (Aaron and Theodosia Burr) but I question how much artistic licence the author took.
The obsessive relationship between father and daughter seems totally unnatural to me but I haven't done any personal research into the characters, so perhaps they did have a practically incestuous love for one another.
Setting that to one side, on the whole the book is very readable although it's somewhat lacking in real tension or excitement and the author has a tendency to descend into almost gothic melodrama in places.
My younger self would probably have got more pleasure from this style of romance, but my older self is content to give it a 3-star rating.
The obsessive relationship between father and daughter seems totally unnatural to me but I haven't done any personal research into the characters, so perhaps they did have a practically incestuous love for one another.
Setting that to one side, on the whole the book is very readable although it's somewhat lacking in real tension or excitement and the author has a tendency to descend into almost gothic melodrama in places.
My younger self would probably have got more pleasure from this style of romance, but my older self is content to give it a 3-star rating.
October 1, 2023
Not my favorite of Setons I think I need more to understand Burr the man to understand Theo. 4th grade New York history was 60 years ago!!!! HAMILTON’s recent popularity tells me nothing, time to read Burr by Gore Vidal. I first read Green Darkness, when it came out and I was a teen and the romance and passions hooked me. Katherine hooked me to Historical fiction (other than the sagas of Michener !) . But Dragonwyck, just a few years ago it’s by far my favorite. A story of time and place. Not Hf but still an awesome book.
September 20, 2009
I loved this book when I was a teenager, and have reread it before this. I wanted to read this book after reading Nancy Isenberg's biography of Aaron Burr, Fallen Founder, partly because the author mentioned at Seton had hinted at incest between Aaron Burr and his daughter, Theodosia.
I still don't see the incest, although I see some mentions of this thought in the mind of Theodosia's rather narrow-minded inlaws. I am inclined to think this view is one primarily promulgated by Phillipa Gregory in her later introductions to the reissues of the Seton works. I do think that Seton plays up this dependence and imparts a kind of naivete to Theodosia that is seems unsubstantiated. It makes a good story, I suppose, but a story I found maddening. I found it maddening because the author deliberately takes aspects of 18th century life and her characters and paints them in a way intended to inflame the sensibilities of 20th century (or 21st century) readers, adding a subtext to the story that was probably not at all there. I have no problems with the author's portrayal of how misguided popular opinion shapes history or even of the difference between the cultures of Theodosia's youth and her later marriage. I have lived and seen too much of cultural differences and petty narrow-minded self interest to realize that there is a grain of truth in all this.
It was a good book for my youthful self. I remain indebted to it as it sparked an interest in Aaron Burr and early American history. The book is fiction, I recognize the differences between fiction and history and think that fiction needs to take some license in order to make its points. I do not, however, think this is one of Seton's best books, but since it was her first, this seems reasonable.
I still don't see the incest, although I see some mentions of this thought in the mind of Theodosia's rather narrow-minded inlaws. I am inclined to think this view is one primarily promulgated by Phillipa Gregory in her later introductions to the reissues of the Seton works. I do think that Seton plays up this dependence and imparts a kind of naivete to Theodosia that is seems unsubstantiated. It makes a good story, I suppose, but a story I found maddening. I found it maddening because the author deliberately takes aspects of 18th century life and her characters and paints them in a way intended to inflame the sensibilities of 20th century (or 21st century) readers, adding a subtext to the story that was probably not at all there. I have no problems with the author's portrayal of how misguided popular opinion shapes history or even of the difference between the cultures of Theodosia's youth and her later marriage. I have lived and seen too much of cultural differences and petty narrow-minded self interest to realize that there is a grain of truth in all this.
It was a good book for my youthful self. I remain indebted to it as it sparked an interest in Aaron Burr and early American history. The book is fiction, I recognize the differences between fiction and history and think that fiction needs to take some license in order to make its points. I do not, however, think this is one of Seton's best books, but since it was her first, this seems reasonable.
February 12, 2021
Looking at other reviews, I am always amazed at how people want to put contemporary attitudes onto something that was written so long ago. Totally unfair. This is a romantic drama about the short life of Theodosia Burr Alston (1783-1813), daughter of the famous Aaron Burr. Seton used a variety of records to construct her narrative and it's very readable--yes, some may find her language and attitudes offensive now, but at the time of her writing, it was not, and the attitudes and manners she's writing about were appropriate for early 19th century America. Accept it for what it is, and read it or not, but stop condemning it because it offends your modern-day sensibilities. Seton's novels were very popular in their time and some still are today. I was fascinated that Theodosia had a meaningful acquaintance with writer Washington Irving, and that she was involved in a long term relationship of sorts with Meriwether Lewis. Even so, Seton makes it plain that Theodosia was her father's daughter, and lived her life for him, even after she was married and living on a rice plantation in South Carolina. She supported Burr through all of his scandals and trials and tribulations, helping him in any way she could, sticking by him when others turned their backs on him, even going against her husband's wishes. This book was a re-read for me, having read it many years ago; I did not remember a good deal of it, so enjoyed it again and even more after watching HAMILTON and reading a biography of Burr just before this.
August 18, 2017
I'm not generally a fan of historical fiction; however, that is because i've never read anything by Anya Seton. What a phenomenal author. If you'd asked me if I wanted to read a book about Aaron Burr's daughter, Theodosia, and their relationship, I ould guess I'd have passes it up. I couldn't put this book down. I learned more about that whole period of history than I ever learned in school.
Very good book! I can't wait to rad more by Anya Seton.
Very good book! I can't wait to rad more by Anya Seton.
December 3, 2017
Yikes. It's one thing to read old books, it's one thing to read historical fiction, and it's completely another to read old historical fiction. This book has not aged well, nor do I suspect I would have found much meat in it had I read it in 1941.
Lesson learned: just because I'm obsessed with American foundational history does not mean I should pick up every loosely related novel I see. At least it's over now.
Lesson learned: just because I'm obsessed with American foundational history does not mean I should pick up every loosely related novel I see. At least it's over now.
March 18, 2016
Awful book! I'd already read other Anya Seton books and liked them. If I'd read this one first, I wouldn't have read any others. A dreary drawn out plot. I might have been able to put up with Theodosia's naive adoration of her father, but the mean spirited racist observations in the book disgusted me. Literally just threw this book in the trash can!
December 27, 2021
این رمان اولین اثر نویسنده است که در سال ۱۹۴۱ نوشت. داستان این کتاب برداشت تخیلی از زندگی تئودوزیا بُر آلستون است که در پس زمینهای تاریخی از معاونت ریاست جمهوری آرون بُر در ایالات متحده و سالهای پس از آن اتفاق میافتد. این کتاب بر زندگی تئودوزیا تمرکز دارد: ازدواج او با جوزف آلستون و ارادت تزلزل ناپذیر او به پدرش آرون بُر.
داستان از تولد ۱۷ سالگی تئودوزیا در سال ۱۸۰۰ آغاز میشود، جایی که پدرش آرون بُر، تئودوزیا را به ژوزف آلستون معرفی میکند تا همسرش شود. تئودوزیا علاقهای به انتخاب پدرش ندارد، زیرا نمیداند که پدرش امیدوار است که این ازدواج حمایت سیاسی او را در ایالتهای جنوبی افزایش دهد تا در آینده بتواند رئیس جمهور آمریکا شود و همچنین به سود مالی منجر شود. در دوران نامزدی رسمی این دو، به طور اتفاقی تئودوزیا با مرن لوئیس آشنا میشود و آن دو فوراً عاشق یکدیگر میشوند. با این حال، آرون بُر این دو را در کنار هم میبیند، و هر گونه شانس ازدواج این دو را از بین میبرد. تئودوزیا با اکراه تسلیم خواستههای پدرش میشود و در فوریه ۱۸۰۱ با ژوزف آلستون ازدواج میکند. این زوج سپس در ایالت کارولینای جنوبی ساکن میشوند و تئودوزیا به زودی اولین و تنها فرزندش را به دنیا میآورد. با این حال تئودوزیا هرگز در جنوب خوشحال نیست و دائماً مشتاق همراهی پدرش است و...
نویسنده این کتاب هم خانم آنیا سِتُن نویسنده آمریکایی داستانهای تاریخی بود و ترجیح میداد که او را نویسنده "رمانهای زندگینامه (بیوگرافی)" بنامند. اسم اصلی این کتاب "تئودوزیای من" است که در ترجمه فارسی نام دیگری بر روی آن گذاشتند. این کتاب در ۴۱۵ صفحه و قطع رقعی به چاپ رسید و برای گروه سنی بزرگسال مناسب است.
داستان از تولد ۱۷ سالگی تئودوزیا در سال ۱۸۰۰ آغاز میشود، جایی که پدرش آرون بُر، تئودوزیا را به ژوزف آلستون معرفی میکند تا همسرش شود. تئودوزیا علاقهای به انتخاب پدرش ندارد، زیرا نمیداند که پدرش امیدوار است که این ازدواج حمایت سیاسی او را در ایالتهای جنوبی افزایش دهد تا در آینده بتواند رئیس جمهور آمریکا شود و همچنین به سود مالی منجر شود. در دوران نامزدی رسمی این دو، به طور اتفاقی تئودوزیا با مرن لوئیس آشنا میشود و آن دو فوراً عاشق یکدیگر میشوند. با این حال، آرون بُر این دو را در کنار هم میبیند، و هر گونه شانس ازدواج این دو را از بین میبرد. تئودوزیا با اکراه تسلیم خواستههای پدرش میشود و در فوریه ۱۸۰۱ با ژوزف آلستون ازدواج میکند. این زوج سپس در ایالت کارولینای جنوبی ساکن میشوند و تئودوزیا به زودی اولین و تنها فرزندش را به دنیا میآورد. با این حال تئودوزیا هرگز در جنوب خوشحال نیست و دائماً مشتاق همراهی پدرش است و...
نویسنده این کتاب هم خانم آنیا سِتُن نویسنده آمریکایی داستانهای تاریخی بود و ترجیح میداد که او را نویسنده "رمانهای زندگینامه (بیوگرافی)" بنامند. اسم اصلی این کتاب "تئودوزیای من" است که در ترجمه فارسی نام دیگری بر روی آن گذاشتند. این کتاب در ۴۱۵ صفحه و قطع رقعی به چاپ رسید و برای گروه سنی بزرگسال مناسب است.
December 28, 2023
Anya Seton's writing amazed me! Her descriptions were beautiful and flowed so well! Many times I forgot I was reading, because of how well she drew me into the story!
I read this book because I wanted to learn a bit about Aaron Burr, and his daughter, in a relaxed way. This story accomplished that, and more. It was well-researched and marvelously executed. I learned much about the atmosphere of the time, as well as about these historical figures. Keep in mind, the book is primarily about Theodosia!
All this said... There were many things I disagreed with and unsettled me, which never were addressed as wrong in the book, and were just as often encouraged. (This could very well be because the historical characters never decided the things were wrong. It still distressed me.)
I don't regret reading it.
CWs:
Assault (A man to a woman, which is brushed off as nothing)
People with dark skin are seen as dumb as rocks, for no other reason than that.
Adultery
I read this book because I wanted to learn a bit about Aaron Burr, and his daughter, in a relaxed way. This story accomplished that, and more. It was well-researched and marvelously executed. I learned much about the atmosphere of the time, as well as about these historical figures. Keep in mind, the book is primarily about Theodosia!
All this said... There were many things I disagreed with and unsettled me, which never were addressed as wrong in the book, and were just as often encouraged. (This could very well be because the historical characters never decided the things were wrong. It still distressed me.)
I don't regret reading it.
CWs:
Assault (A man to a woman, which is brushed off as nothing)
People with dark skin are seen as dumb as rocks, for no other reason than that.
Adultery
September 4, 2024
Anya Seton is a very unique writer. I have read her novel Katherine twice. Compelling, poetic, and a bit of Austen, she carries you through scenes with imagery and prose that captivates. This is the story of Aaron Burr and his only child Theodosia, a haunting figure in American History. It’s a story I didn’t know much about beyond the famous duel with Alexander Hamilton. I found it to be a real page turner and a book you could read more than once.
December 10, 2020
A story of Theodosia and Aaron Burr. It is told mainly from Theodosia’s view point but we also see much of Aaron’s life and how it affects her. I’m interested in the Burr’s because of the musical Hamilton. This is also my favorite author and one of the few books of hers I have not read.
July 14, 2024
Interesting. Wonder how much is true. Ms Seton states it’s based on letters. I had read a different account where she goes to England with her father. The father daughter connection barely misses being “yucky”. Glad to have read it but likely won’t read again.
May 9, 2020
Kind of plodding but the history was interesting..
September 12, 2012
The story was interesting, so the two stars. But for a "meticulously researched" historical novel, there were many inaccuracies. I know it was written in 1941 by a New Yorker, but I was horrified by the racism in all the scenes that involved African Americans, from the the hairdresser who did Theo's hair for her 17th birthday in an early chapter, to the servants of the Burr family, and especially when the story moved to South Carolina to a rice plantation full of slaves. All the worst stereotypes were applied to these folks. Obviously Anya Seton was a woman of her times writing about the 1800's, but reading it (for a book group) really made me squirm!
Readers interested in Theodosia's story might want to take a look at Michael Parker's recent novel, The Watery Part of the World.
I didn't really like that book much, either, but it does give a different fictional take on what happened to Theodosia Burr.
Finished my second time through so I could fill in for absent book group leader. I stand by my 2-star review. There was a lively discussion within the group, though, and lots of comparison with the real history. A couple of the women really enjoyed the book!
Readers interested in Theodosia's story might want to take a look at Michael Parker's recent novel, The Watery Part of the World.
I didn't really like that book much, either, but it does give a different fictional take on what happened to Theodosia Burr.
Finished my second time through so I could fill in for absent book group leader. I stand by my 2-star review. There was a lively discussion within the group, though, and lots of comparison with the real history. A couple of the women really enjoyed the book!
March 30, 2012
Our heroine, Theodosia Burr, is the only child of Vice President Aaron Burr (most famous for his duel with Alexander Hamilton). This book which spans from 1800-1812 tells the story of her relationship with her father and his self-serving hold on her. Ultimately, she sacrificed everything because of this devotion. This was Anya Seton's first novel written in 1941 and as always she is a master storyteller. One of the things I like about this author is her knack of making a rather obscure historical figure into an appealing story. While not my favorite Seton novel it was well researched and held my interest throughout.
July 14, 2016
Anya Seton's historical fiction, although written in the Mid-20th Century, is exceptional. Well-researched, her characters are fully developed based on what is known of the historical individuals on whom they are based. Yes, dialogue is imagined, but the places, events, and letters as well as speeches, etc are taken from primary documents.
The story of Aaron Burr's daughter, Theodosia, and her almost obsessive love and drive to please her father is fascinating.
I read most of this in one sitting as I didn't want to put it down.
Rating: 4.5
The story of Aaron Burr's daughter, Theodosia, and her almost obsessive love and drive to please her father is fascinating.
I read most of this in one sitting as I didn't want to put it down.
Rating: 4.5
January 25, 2018
Wow. The gaslighting, Stockholm syndrome and emotional blackmail in this book are astounding. I wanted so badly to hate Theo, but I just felt sorry for her most of the time. I feel like if her mother had lived, she might have been spared the emotional abuse at her father's hand and been able to lead a happy life. The fact that she spent the majority of her married years as an invalid, due to the fact that she was so incredibly unhappy, is just heartbreaking. However, it was a very well written book and kept my attention through out.
February 14, 2018
This was a pretty quick read, and I did find the story of Theodosia's life fairly interesting. But honestly this was hard to get through reading it through a contemporary lens. The treatment of people of color was hugely problematic, which obviously it was at the time the book was set, but this was more than that. There was an offensive sneeriness toward the slaves and servants that came through in the writing that was probably completely acceptable at the time of publication, but never should have been, and thinking about that pulled me right out of the story.
May 27, 2025
2.5
My Theodosia is Anya Seton first book and it really shows. It has a lot of her weaknesses and not much of her strengths.
The biggest problem was how slow paced this book is. It takes a while for the plot to get moving and when it does, it moves at the pace of a sightseeing trolly. I found it to be so dull and heavy handed.
I will say this for Seton, she really does know how to choose an exciting story. It’s just too bad that her execution often misses the mark for me.
My Theodosia is Anya Seton first book and it really shows. It has a lot of her weaknesses and not much of her strengths.
The biggest problem was how slow paced this book is. It takes a while for the plot to get moving and when it does, it moves at the pace of a sightseeing trolly. I found it to be so dull and heavy handed.
I will say this for Seton, she really does know how to choose an exciting story. It’s just too bad that her execution often misses the mark for me.
July 7, 2009
This is an example of why I am so hesitant to read historical fiction, especially those whose characters do have an actual place in the past. Herein we are treated to the most intimate thoughts and secret feelings of real and well-known people from the past ... nonsense.
June 18, 2013
I read all of Anya Seton's books when I was in high school.. Loved all her books..Have found a few I missed--guess my high school didn't have them--that I hope to read.. some still do not have Kindle editions.. Anyone who likes historical fiction would enjoy her books..
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