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Caleb's Crossing

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Caleb's Crossing

By: Geraldine Brooks
Narrated by: Jennifer Ehle
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About this listen

Caleb Cheeshateaumauk was the first native American to graduate from Harvard College back in 1665. Caleb's Crossing gives voice to his little known story. Caleb, a Wampanoag from the island of Martha's Vineyard, seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts, comes of age just as the first generation of Indians come into contact with English settlers, who have fled there, desperate to escape the brutal and doctrinaire Puritanism of the Massachusetts Bay colony. The story is told through the eyes of Bethia, daughter of the English minister who educates Caleb in the Latin and Greek he needs in order to enter the college. As Caleb makes the crossing into white culture, Bethia, 14 years old at the novel's opening, finds herself pulled in the opposite direction. Trapped by the narrow strictures of her faith and her gender, she seeks connections with Caleb's world that will challenge her beliefs and set her at odds with her community.

©2011 Geraldine Brooks (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature Native American Biography Massachusetts
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Geraldine Brooks at her best with this thought provoking multi-layered novel. At first listening I didn't think I would like the narrator but I think she was just right.

Thought provoking. Wonderful read

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Beautifully written. The story of Bethia and Caleb shows the tangled hope and tragedy of colonialism. To think most of the “crossing” happened in just 10 years. Ehle’s performance is rich with understanding.

Brooks writes with beauty and honesty

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The story was beautiful; well researched and presenting rich detail. A stark reminder of the inequality women and minority groups faced in the past.
Narration was extremely slow and clumsy. Over enunciating every word in a condescending fashion as if reading to someone with English as a second language. Was extremely hard to listen to.

A beautiful story near ruined by the awful narration.

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Loved the story from beginning to end. the relationship between Bethea and Caleb was so special.

wonderful and Moving

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This is to me a faultless piece of work read with insight and skill by Jennifer Ehle! I highly recommend it it to lovers of literature. I have been unable by the app. to give the story and the ‘overall’ a 5 star rating but it deserves a 6 star rating. Geraldine Brookes is a master of storytelling snd language!

Superb novel!

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