Cecilia and I are not quite the same age. I hide in my room, embroidering all sorts of dainty things -pillowcases and gowns with pearl-studded lace ruffles for my hope chest. The language is clear and concise.Įlena states “I find the Swedish lady’s freedom to wander all over the island without a chaperone so disturbing that I can hardly bear her company. It’s very clear that the words are carefully chosen and tell the story in a straightforward manner without unnecessary details. The rhythm of the story moves along swiftly. Frederika, Cecilia and Elena, a fictionalized character who is the daughter of Frederika’s wealthy hosts. The same story is told from three perspectives. However, I would definitely seek out more after having read The Firefly Letters. I don’t recall having read many novels in verse such as this story. With the help of a young African slave girl named Cecilia as her translator, she kept rigorous accounts of the plights of the poor, the slaves and the servants, especially the women and children. This novel told in poetic verse is the true story of Frederika Bremer, a Swedish aristocrat who traveled to Cuba in 1851 for a three month visit.
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