Caleb's Crossing

By: Geraldine Brooks

Narrated by: Jennifer Ehle

Caleb Cheeshateaumauk was the first native American to graduate from Harvard College back in 1665. Caleb's Crossing gives voice to his little known story. Caleb, a Wampanoag from the island of Martha's Vineyard, seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts, comes of age just as the first generation of Indians come into contact with English settlers, who have fled there, desperate to escape the brutal and doctrinaire Puritanism of the Massachusetts Bay colony. The story is told through the eyes of Bethia, daughter of the English minister who educates Caleb in the Latin and Greek he needs in order to enter the college. As Caleb makes the crossing into white culture, Bethia, 14 years old at the novel's opening, finds herself pulled in the opposite direction. Trapped by the narrow strictures of her faith and her gender, she seeks connections with Caleb's world that will challenge her beliefs and set her at odds with her community.

©2011 Geraldine Brooks (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Not memorable but good to fill in time

I have a love of Geraldine's books. This one however is not great. It lacks the depth and sincerity of previous offerings. I enjoyed it on a superficial level.

The tragedy of hate and war.

It seems almost impossible, today, with all our easy access to learning and information, that a person had suffer and sacrifice so much for an education. The story is beautiful and so, so terribly sad. I was heartbroken at times, humiliated to be part of "the priviliged" and ashamed of our lack of true compassion. But also encouraged that somehow, somewhere redemption is still possible.

A beautiful story

What did you love best about Caleb's Crossing?

I enjoyed Caleb's tale as told by Bethia Mayfield who in her own headstrong way set him up to receive the gifts of knowledge but at a significant cost.

What about Jennifer Ehle’s performance did you like?

Jennifer Ehle was excellent in this role.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended.

Caleb's Crossing a Challenge

As an avid book reader, this presentation convinced me that I would probably not have finished the written version. Ms Ehle's concise rendition put me right there in that time zone and I could visualise the characters. She glided over the intense scholarly references and Latin quotations, which I might have baulked at, with ease, so that combined with Ms Brooks's writing technique, I became totally immersed right to the end. How interesting that the one review I read was a total contradiction of this view.

A wonderful story beautifully written

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This in an interesting window into the world of the pilgrims and the customs and beliefs of some of the American Indians

What did you like best about this story?

The way the customs and practices of two different cultures are examined
It made me think about some ideas I have long taken for granted.

What does Jennifer Ehle bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She read this well

Who was the most memorable character of Caleb's Crossing and why?

Many of the characters are interesting, complex and believable.

Any additional comments?

The relationships between the characters was interesting