The Iceweaver

by Margaret Lawrence

In January 1809, John Frayne returns to New Forge, New York, to reclaim his father's confiscated lands and becomes drawn to a beautiful, damaged woman in ragged clothing—a perplexing, wild creature. A mute madwoman named Jennet, she is soon declared indigent and put up for auction. Frayne, stangely compelled to help her, bids for her future. Together, they struggle through the coarse and killing world that closes in on them both.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Mystery, 19th Century

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Lorraine Margaret Keilstrup, wrote as Margaret Lawrence, Margaret K. Lawrence and M. K. Lorens. Her last name is pronounced KEEL-strup. She was born in February 23, 1945 and died on January 8, 2012 in Freemont, Nebraska at her home.

Keilstrup graduated valedictorian from Fremont High School and then summa cum laude from Midland Lutheran College, now Midland University, in 1967. Keilstrup was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. She earned a Master of Arts and doctorate degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, writing a doctoral thesis on The Myth of Cain in the Early English Drama in 1974. She taught there for several years and also taught in Fort Hays, Kansas.

She won several writing competitions during these years and then had plays produced at the Omaha Playhouse and on Nebraska-ETV, before giving up teaching and moving to New York City to pursue a career as a writer and playwright. Her plays were produced by the Hudson Guild and the New York Shakespeare Festival and she was a finalist for the Blackburn Prize in drama.

She wrote scripts for CBS-Universal Studios, notably for "The Equalizer" television series. The episode, "Riding the Elephant," received a superb rating on tv.com.

Keilstrup returned to Fremont to care for ailing family members, and lived in her 120 year old ancestral home, which was originally built by her grandfather in a cornfield outside Fremont and which starred a garden that contained her grandmother's roses and poppies first planted from seeds brought from Flanders Field after World War I. The Keilstrup home is the oldest home in Fremont continuously lived in by the same family.

After her return home, she began writing novels, first as M. K. Lorens and then as Margaret Lawrence.
As M. K. Lorens, she wrote five novels starring featuring Winston Marlowe Sherman, mystery-writing Shakespearan professor, beginning with SWEET NARCISSUS (Bantam, 1990) and ending with SORROWHEART (Doubleday, 1993). As Margaret Lawrence, she wrote three novels starring Hannah Trevor, Revolutionary War era midwife, and a number of other historical novels.
For these novels, she was a finalist for The Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, the UK’s Golden Dagger, and other literary awards. Her books were translated in to a number of other languages for nations like Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic and Japan. She also published poems and short stories.

Known to her friends and family for her intelligence, wit and humor, her deep compassion for others, and for her liking for privacy, she was also known for many creative talents, including her fluency in Danish, German, Spanish and French. She played the piano, composed folk songs, and excelled at Danish papercutting, needlework and quilting. Many of her projects were profiled in magazines. She died on January 8, 2012 at her home in Fremont, Nebraska.

Reviews

[Jennifer Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could you NOT like a book about an outcast, who lives in a bleak icy wilderness, and his various odd associates, and some poor woman he finds. AND if it's got poetry like this:
Where is his mouth that once brought me sweetness?
Where is his heart that bestowed understanding?
Where are his feet that were bright in the morning?
Where are his hands that wove the light of the stars?
well, you can't lose.

[Marilyn Saul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! The characters are believable and, in the case of John, Jannet, Marius, Gabe, Aunt Hope, and even Tim, endearing. But most of all, the language was lyrical and, at times, astounding. Two examples that made me pause: "The old boards crack and moan, crucified on their nails..." and "...feeling once more the old temptation to turn the random collision of atoms to personal guilt." Then you add the loom, the process of rebuilding and warping, and finally weaving, and the weaving of the ice over Hannah's grave and over Jannet's grief, the warp of John's life the Native Americans and his wife Tacha combined with the weft of Jannet, which makes John a whole person. This is just an amazing book. I look forward to reading more by Margaret Lawrence, especially her books that fill in the tapestry with Hannah.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

So strange meeting Hannah Trevor again as she is being buried by her daughter Jennet, a young deaf woman, newly orphaned. Jennet's own chances of survival are not good given her handicap, her lack of resources and the fact that the townspeople consider her not only indigent, but mad. Set in upper New-York state in the early 1800s, Jennet's story runs parallel with that of John Frayne and then intersects with his when he bids on her at the County Vendue where paupers are given to the keeping of citizens who keep them for a small reimbursement from the county. The plight of those who were considered Tories or Loyalists before, during, and this long after the American Revolution is an essential aspect of Lawrence's plotting. Part of my own family history contains such folks and I consider the fleshing out of what their lives must have been like fascinating. Lawrence also incorporates a lame deserter from the Napoleonic Wars, and Frayne, the cartographer, who has endured betrayal, torture and adoption into a native tribe during his time in 'The West". The writing and description are lyrical. The ideas and dilemmas are BIG. The chance amalgam of the band of misfits is heartening. We even have the delight of Frayne's treasure hunt. For me this was a very rewarding read. Highly recommended.

[Rosina Lippi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a follow-up to Lawrence's three excellent Hannah Trevor novels, some of the best historical fiction I have ever read. The Ice Weaver is in many ways my favorite, in part because the author doesn't feel bound by the tenets of the mystery genre (as she was for the first three). It's the story of Hannah's daughter Jennet, a young deaf woman, newly orphaned, struggling to stay alive and sane and keep her dignity. Set in upper New-York state in the late 1700s, it rings absolutely authentic.

[Susan Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in its hold throughout. Well developed characters, great historical detail. It's narrative showcases the power of story and the healing of connection. I appreciated reading a book that I did not know if everyone I had grown to care about would make it out alive.

[Christina Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tried to read this a couple time but couldn’t get interested.

[Anita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to get into this one but I guess it just isn't for me.

[Ginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I read this book a long time ago and I feel bad because I couldn't remember the title, or the author until I did some poking around. I remembered the story, which is very good; writing, plot, historical significance.
Second, it's 3rd in a series and I don't think you need to read them in order. I need to read the other books, but this one was very well written and has a dreamy, poetic quality to it. A story that lingers (even 8 yrs. later), a story that I wish I had written.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an extraordinary book. I'd only read one other book by this author and it was okay but I debated reading another. I expected just another book of historical fiction and this was so much more than that. It's a beautiful affirmation that even the most broken of us can walk through fire and emerge the better for it.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I thought it was good, different, not the run of the mill story. There may have been some swear words in it.. can't remember for sure. I thought the story was interesting however.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as her first three books about Hannah (midwife/healer/weaver) in Maine right after the Revolutionary War. This story wandered all over the place and I kept waiting for "something" to happen. Was glad when the end came :(

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

kept my interest - liked the icebreaker analogies throughout - I hope that the people who lived in the early 1800's, pre War of 1812, were more upstanding than some of the characters presented...and that life was less harsh for at least some of the early settlers in upstate NY.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

read 1 - AFPL / SS 2007 est.
2018? bought at DeKalb Lib Sale / prob rescue from Goodwill give-away!
read 2 - Dekalb-lib (Library binding/ Tiny gutter!) 2022

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the rest of Lawrence's books, but was disappointed by this one. The story was disjointed and just didn't flow for me. I had to struggle through it.

[Bblount95624]

One of my favorite books of historical fiction, vivid dreamlike description.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical novel set in NY prior to Rev. War.

[Sheila]

I enjoyed reading this book. At first I wasn't sure but I'm glad I kept on reading.

[Sashi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow movement, hard to read. Gave up after a few tries.

[Karen Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction in early 1800's upstate NY, which held my interest. But,
Not one of my favorites by this author.

[Sue Getman · Rating 4 out of 5]

1809 upstate NY historical fiction, politics, status, interesting story

[Toni Kania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful historical novel that takes place in the difficult, cruel, times of America's late 17th century.