The Last Runaway discussion

How likely would it be for a Quaker woman of that day and age to walk out on her husband with baby in tow?

This is only my opinion, but I don't think it would be that inconceivable. I know that within marriage, women were often leaving their families: husbands and young children, to go off on missions and were often gone for long periods of time. Though 'Quaker' is often thought to be ultra-conservative, when it comes to women, the views are a bit more liberal and women had a lot of autonomy even within marriage.

Bridget wrote: "How likely would it be for a Quaker woman of that day and age to walk out on her husband with baby in tow?"

Highly unlikely. I agree, especially at that date in history. This thinking is modern-day, 20-21st century thinking put into 19th century. Not to mention she was great with child, which at any time would cause a women pause. Makes a good story though. And as my husband says, "That's fiction for you!" :)

gertt wrote: "I didn't feel that Honor was walking out on Jack so much as she needed to sort out her feelings and beliefs. Honor found solice with a friend and she never kept Jack away for herself or the baby.
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True. As it came out later in the book, leaving Jack wasn't really what Honor was doing. When marrying she also married a family, which she was having difficultly with than Jack.

She's just really not my favorite author, but she does pick intriguing topics and story lines.

I love so many of her books, but this one just didn't win me over. I found I had little sympathy for the main character and felt the situations to be a bit far fetched. If you liked it though, try reading The Virgin Blue! zounds!

Her name is Honor. How do you Honor anyone if you cannot Honor your own beliefs? She left to Honor herself BEFORE she became a mother. She found Honor in Comfort. She returned to him--for them. He continued to Honor them by moving them forward. I was much more disturbed by the "rape" scene in the cornfield. I will never look at cornfields about to ripen the same. I find that much more disHonoring of her/them than Honor leaving out. Nothing like "marking" your territory.