Review by Caroline Beanblossom
THE WIDOW’S WAR- Sally Gunning
Sally Gunning is an 18th century history buff, especially of the old Cape Cod Bay life in the 1700′s. Tragically at the age of 37, Lyddie Berry became a widow from the sea, a common occurrence during the 1700′s at Cape Cod Bay, where fishing is the main occupation for the men of the community. After twenty years of managing her own affairs while her husband was away at sea, she finds it intolerable to become the ward of her only son-in-law because, according to the law, her property is controlled by her nearest male relative, with the widow receiving the standard “widow’s thirds”. Therefore, Lyddie struggles for survival, all the while fighting custom and convention imposed on her by the 18th century laws concerning women. And fight she does, along with her young attorney, who believes in her rights. With unexpected help from her “Indian” neighbor, she settles in for the battle for her right to her “third”. This is a great source of information on everyday life in a 1761 Cap Code fishing village – food storage, gardening, canning, preserving of food, clothing, religious codes, and the violent winters endured by all. Does Sally win her battle? Read and find out.
This book is at the Harrison County Library.
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