THE BELIEVERS

by Janice Holt Giles ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 1956

A successor (but not really a sequel) to Hannah Fowler returns to Kentucky, no longer a wilderness in the early years of the 19th century, combines a personal story with the authentic facts of life within the rigid restraints of a Shaker sect and the great wrongs committed in its name. Rebecca, the daughter of Tice and Hannah Fowler, brings both love and respect to her marriage to Richard Cooper, knows only disappointment in the death of her first two children, and goes with Richard- unquestioningly- when he moves to another county to serve under the preacher John Rankin. Three missionaries come to convert both Rankin and Richard to the Shaker faith; a community is formed where men are separated from the women and there are strict rules of continence even between husbands and wives. Rebecca refuses full membership, and is rebuked; she intercedes for the runaway ""blacks"", and there are other defections which lead to her open opposition; and finally she realizes that it is Stephen, a teaching Brother who does not condone these practices, whom she loves .... A steady, sturdy and forthright period novel- for the market,- women rather than men- and rentals rather than sales- she has established.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1956

Categories: FICTION