BKMT READING GUIDES



 
Informative,
Dramatic,
Epic

3 reviews

Jarrettsville: A Novel
by Cornelia Nixon

Published: 2009-09-29
Paperback : 340 pages
0 members reading this now
2 clubs reading this now
1 member has read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 3 of 3 members
Based on a true story from the author’s family history, Jarrettsville begins in 1869, just after Martha Jane Cairnes has shot and killed her fiancé, Nicholas McComas, in front of his Union cavalry militia as they were celebrating the anniversary of the Confederate surrender at ...
No other editions available.
Add to Club Selections
Add to Possible Club Selections
Add to My Personal Queue
Jump to

Introduction

Based on a true story from the author’s family history, Jarrettsville begins in 1869, just after Martha Jane Cairnes has shot and killed her fiancé, Nicholas McComas, in front of his Union cavalry militia as they were celebrating the anniversary of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.

To find out why she murdered him, the story steps back to 1865, six days after the surrender, when President Lincoln has just been killed by John Wilkes Booth. Booth belongs to the same Rebel militia as Martha’s hot-headed brother Richard, who has gone missing along with Booth. Martha is loyal to her brother but in love with Nicholas McComas, a local hero of the Union cause, and their affair is fraught with echoes of the bloody conflict just ended.

The story is set in Northern Maryland, six miles below the Mason-Dixon line, where brothers literally fought on opposing sides, and former slave-owners live next door to abolitionists and freed men. Such tension proves key to Martha’s motives in killing the man she loves, and why ? astonishingly ? she is soon acquitted by a jury of her peers, despite more than fifty eyewitnesses to the crime.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

No Excerpt Currently Available

Discussion Questions

No discussion questions at this time.

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "Our Thoughts"by Lori C. (see profile) 09/21/10

Our group gave this book a B+. Thoroughly enjoyed the historical avenues the author took. Brought to mind what those times were like and the things people do to survive. Good book club selection.

 
  "Wonderful Historical Fiction"by Wendy W. (see profile) 08/23/10

We selected this book because we live just a few miles from Jarrettsville, MD. We couldn't have been happier with it... Jarrettsville is an amazing story, ripped from history. The author does an excellent... (read more)

 
  "Great read!"by Tori L. (see profile) 06/18/10

Rate this book
MEMBER LOGIN
Remember me
BECOME A MEMBER it's free

Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.

SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES Search
Search




FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Please wait...