This book is a historically based story about the purchase of Nantucket Island by the Coffin family and several others in the 1600's. I chose my main character as Mary (Coffin) Starbuck; known as ‘The Great Mary’; the most prominent woman at that time and who embraced the religion of Friends Society. It is written through her eyes beginning in her teenage years through adulthood when she embraces the Quaker religion and establishes the Friends Meeting there in 1701. This endeavor is close to my heart and has taken me many years to complete. The researching of the island history has been closely documented it in my book. The day-to-day activities have been fictionalized. I was born a Quaker in the community of Whittier; California. I am also an eleventh generation descendent of Tristram Coffin. Both of my parents and brother are professional writers. My mother has published a history book about her town of Fallbrook; California and has been a great help with my writing and editing of this book. In my career I have worked in the finance and accounting field most of my life. However; I have always had a love of history and writing. This is my first published book; and I have experienced great joy and excitement achieving this dream.
#1272929 in Books 2016-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.59 x 1.11 x 5.66l; .0 #File Name: 1493018817416 pages
Review
43 of 43 people found the following review helpful. A book for all who are interested in the Civil War --By Alan D. RoseThis book is notable for several reasons. First; it relates the backgrounds; personalities; and personal agendas of the participants; both North and South; to the historical events central to the book. Second; the book is exceedingly well written: characters are vivid; settings are explained; context is clear; and the events that are intertwined; or occurring simultaneously -- such as the voting on the Thirteenth Amendment and the planning for peace conferences -- are always explained. Third; the irony of soldiers battling in the trenches -- while politicians pontificate and editorial writers preach -- is superb. Fourth; even the footnotes and endnotes are of interest. A page turner history book -- now that's unusual!25 of 26 people found the following review helpful. Wonderfully done.By Henri J BourneufWithin this compelling narrative of events leading to the Hampton Roads encounter; James Conroy brilliantly conjures its participants to life. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s far lengthier biographical sketches of many of these same people at the outset of her Team of Rivals tended to blend rather than define their persons and characters in my mind’s eye. I very much appreciated Conroy’s linking his work firmly and clearly to the voluminous source documents without impeding his intriguing story.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Fleshing Out a Small Bit of HistoryBy Janet K. SchwartzkopfJames B. Conroy has taken a rather obscure bit of Civil War history and made quite a good book of it. The actual meeting between the U.S. delegation headed by Pres. Lincoln and the Confederate one lead by Vice Pres. Alexander Stephens was too brief to carry an entire book; so Conroy goes back and focuses on the political fast-dealings by Francis Blair that brought the two sides together and then follows the peace delegates through to the end of the war and beyond.Certainly as the calendar moved to 1865; just about everyone could read the writing on the wall -- except possibly Jefferson Davis; Both sides were tired of war; men continued dying needlessly; and the delegates moved out on a limb to try to finish it up as quickly as possible. The only problem was Lincoln's insistence that the two sides unite. Blair; a political operative if there ever was one; had floated the idea of a military operation by the two armies to drive the French out of Mexico as a way of bringing everyone back together; but when it became plain that wasn't in the cards; the peace conference failed to move ahead and both sides went home dissatisfied.Having spent years reading about the Civil War; I was also impressed by things Conroy brought out that I didn't know. In many ways; the meeting hinged on the personal friendship between Lincoln and Stephens; who had both opposed the war with Mexico while Whig members of congress. However; I didn't know that as a personal favor; Lincoln arranged for one of Stephens' nephews to be released from a northern POW camp. After the meeting; Lincoln floated the idea of buying the South's slaves to his cabinet; but they were so unanimously opposed he put the plan away. Most distressing; however; is Davis' efforts to discredit those who attended the conference while stirring the pot for continued warfare. Aside from his inability to recognize the truth; for him; the war was very personal; and years after its end; he refused to talk with one of the attendees when meeting him on a public street.My only problem with this book was the end-noting system the author used. Although his research is extensively backed up; it wasn't always clear to me the proper attributes to certain things (I was reading on my Kindle) and I regret that. However; it's certainly a book I'm glad I read; and I hope Conroy writes more.
