John Brown's Women

I definitely recommend this engaging and historically fair fictionalized story centered on the abolitionist John Brown's second wife, his daughters and daughters-in-law. Although we learn about the various Brown children in general, Higginbotham focuses on Mary, on John Junior's wife Wealthy Hotchkiss Brown, and on the strong-minded Annie Brown. The facts of John Browns life are well known: He had a huge family; he experienced modest successes and abject failures in trying to make a living; he traveled constantly, he was deeply religious and he was radically anti-slavery. Ultimately, he turned to violence as a means of trying to end slavery in the US, first in Kansas, then at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. He had four boys and one girl living when his first wife died. Mary bore an additional six girls and seven boys. The Browns were close knit, valued education for girls as well as boys, were hard working and shared strong political and social views that led Mary to support John's activism and dangerous decisions while writing faithfully and keeping their farm going. In a similarly strong marriage, Wealthy emigrated to Kansas with John Jr. and other family members, along with John Sr. who went in part to consider a move there and in part due to the political climate. The violence between those who wanted Kansas to be a free state and those who wanted it to be a slave state resulted in the destruction of all their property. Some of the Brown's were involved in killing five pro-slavery men. John Jr. was imprisoned and tortured, then charged with treason. We see first hand how Wealthy handles all their hardships and loss including her care for her husband during a complete mental breakdown. Annie at 15 went with her pregnant sister-in-law Martha to a farmhouse in Maryland to help keep house for John Brown and the men he was recruiting for the raid at Harper's Ferry. The intent was to make it look like a normal household/farm, not just a household with a bunch of unrelated men. The Black men that joined the group had to be hidden. Annie played a critical role of distracting and redirecting potentially suspicious neighbors. Shortly before the raid, the two young women went home to New York state. This is a fast and satisfying read and captures the unusual and yet ordinary day to day lives of an extraordinary family, in particular the women. John Brown is often portrayed as a caricature. His views and actions were certainly extreme even when presented in a factual rather than a sensational manner. I appreciated Higginbotham's decision to show John Brown's humanity throughout this story, as well as her multi-dimensional portrayal of each of her primary subjects. We often lose women in history. To tell their stories, Higgenbotham made good choices on what to include from the voluminous amount information available on the Brown family. This is a novel, with imagined conversations and some characters that are made up, but it was refreshing that nothing central to their lives had to be made up about the women in this piece of historical fiction.

I really liked this book but must give a caution. This story is very difficult emotionally. The mid 1800’s were very hard. Diseases that today might only require a couple of antibiotic scripts and a week of rest were deadly back then. Infant and childhood mortality ran very high with many children dying before their fifth year. This novel does not romanticize nor gloss over this reality. So be warned it is a sad and difficult read at times.
John Brown was described by his contemporaries as anything from a madman to a devout man following God’s plan. Whatever the case actually was we do know he was a devout man, a passionate abolitionist who believed pacifism in the movement had accomplished little and only through violent means would slavery be ended. Though focused on the women in his life this story first and foremost is about John Brown and what led him to Harper’s Ferry.
The book tells his story through 3 women. His wife Mary, a devout and unassuming woman with a quiet inner strength who supported him implicitly in his plans. Mary kept the family together and kept the farm running during John’s long absences. She was his center she was his rock.
Wealthy was John’s first daughter in law, married to his eldest son John Jr.. Though sophisticated and fashion conscious Wealthy was also a strong intelligent woman up for most adventures. When some in the family decide to move to the unsettled Kansas territory Wealthy eagerly assents. She supports her father in law’s cause by doing everything from bullet making to gun running. She had a core of steel.
Annie is John’s eldest daughter by Mary. She joins John’s cause at age 15. She is outspoken and opinionated but also a good liar. This trait helps as the men gather for the raid.
This book is very well written. The author sticks close to the known history, details of which are woven seamlessly into the narrative. All primary and secondary characters are so well defined you can almost see yourself as a friend or neighbor. You can almost see them as family. I felt their triumphs and tragedies. They have stayed with me for several days now. I think they will remain with me a while longer.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy good family dramas.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Onslow Press and Netgalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.

I had heard of John Brown in history class, but through the perspectives of three important women in John Brown’s life, we see him come alive over the course of three decades in this historical fiction novel. What we are also given here is insight to the influence of his family in the path of his life.

Mary is his second wife, only just 17 when they were married. Already father to 8 children, together they added 13 more so that John Brown had a total of 21 children. Early on, Mary was a strong woman, always supportive of her husband’s calling to be an abolitionist. Even when his work became deadly and at the cost of her sons. Ever the obedient wife as she keeps the home fires burning, do not underestimate the courage of this woman and her influence.

Wealthy, a progressively minded woman, is the wife of the oldest son, John Jr. She tells her story of life with her husband, following him from Ohio to Pennsylvania to Kansas. Through her eyes, we follow his trials of trying to make Kansas a free state, of being in prison, and his struggle with mental illness.

Annie, the teenage daughter of John and Mary, is instrumental to her father and brothers as she travels to Harper’s Ferry in his quest to make his mark against the South to free the slaves. There while she holds his secrets and protects his purpose as he prepares to strike, she fives her heart to one who follows her father.

Well researched, this book offers great insight and a personal touch into the life of John Brown. While history paints him as larger than life, as most historical figures become, this fictional account through the point of view of important women in his life helps to make him human and flawed. It kept me reading on to hear what happens next. The perils and struggles that they endured were heart breaking and their ability to handle them were admirable. What courage. I appreciated the epilogue that summarizes what became of all those involved that fateful day and of John Brown’s family. Anyone with interest in the Civil War or of American History itself would appreciate this book. Anyone with interests in the strength of women who rise in the face of adversity, would enjoy it as well.

Many thanks to #netgalley #johnbrownswomen #susanhigginsbottom for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This wa ssuch a gripping and compelling read, even more so as it is based on a real figure in history and real events. It was well written with endearing characters, I really enjoyed it.

Epic read! This story is so engaging and interesting, it makes it go fast reading - but gosh, what a story!

We learn about John Brown and Harper's Ferry in grade school history classes, so that's really all the information I had before reading this book. It's a very well crafted story that was eye opening into his history and how involved in fighting against slavery he was, so many connections around the country working together.

This book is marked into four segments - it starts with his wife, Mary, and her story - how they met, all the babies, the moving around so much, John's absences and how understanding of his cause she is. Such an incredible, strong, determined, and quietly reserved woman. The other segments include the story from John's son, John Jr.'s wife, Wealthy and John's daughter, Annie. This book covers three decades of the Brown family - and the author includes a very detailed follow up note of the remaining family. I

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

What an amazing story based on true story. I found this story so riveting and I was fast turning pages to see what happens next and yet lingering over the beautiful writing! I love reading historical fiction but sometimes there are hard and sad but the author handles it very well.

In this historical novel, Susan Higginbotham does an excellent job of telling the stories of the women behind John Brown’s Abolitionist crusade.
The book is divided into four parts. The first features his second wife Mary, the second his daughter in law Wealthy and the third his daughter Annie. The fourth section circles back to Mary. The book also includes a detailed epilogue that covers what happened to various members of the family after John Brown’s hanging.

The 3 women, along with everyone else in John Brown’s family (including his sons (the man had 21 children) are extraordinary. All of them follow John Brown as he moves between New York, Ohio, Kansas and Virginia. Several of the sons die with their father at Harper’s Ferry. Mary gives is often left to run the farm and raise their children while John Brown is off espousing his cause. She gives birth to 13 children which meant she was pretty much perpetually pregnant or nursing and also raised 5 stepchildren. Wealthy, who marries the oldest son leaves her comfortable home in Ohio to live in a tent in Kansas, copes with her husband’s imprisonment and subsequent mental breakdown. Annie follows her father to Virginia to cook and clean for the men John Brown recruits for the ill stared raid at Harper’s Ferry. Mary goes to Virginia to tell her husband farewell when he’s captured and sentenced to death.

The story moves along quickly, the dialogue is believable and accurate. The author does a good job of describing scenery, time and place. She includes enough historical background so the reader understands the era but not so much that it bogs down the story.


I very much enjoyed this book and learned a great deal about Bleeding Kansas and the activities of the Abolitionists prior to the Civil War. There are many parallels between America of the 1850s and present-day America. Let us hope we manage to solve today’s political divide without going to war.


Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this novel as an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The life of the Brown family is definitely well worth telling! Fighting against slavery before the American Civil War, John Brown has been backed up by his whole family, starting by his seemingly unassigned wife Mary. The same is true about his daughters and daughters-in-law. One might think they were in the background. However, not because they were obeying wives, but because they fully embraced John's views about slavery, they did everything they could to support him. Whether by going to Kansas, in the middle of fights or moving to a house under another name, pretending to be a normal family as a cover. Each part of the book is about one of these women and their quiet role in the fight to support John. Very well written, one gets to know all characters before John decided on acting on his beliefs with weapons. I was impressed by their courage, knowing well that their own deaths could be the outcome. A true story which might not be well- known in Europe but well worth knowing about! Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this novel as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction. Higginbotham does a great job of bringing John Brown’s family to life. I loved the focus on his wife, daughter -in- law, and daughters. I am most interested in the families as a social historian so this novel was right up my alley. I appreciated the historical note, which led me to hunt down some books for further reading. It’s a great addition to the canon Of American historical fiction,

John Brown was a historical figure that I learned very briefly about in high school history class. Susan Higginbotham brings him to life through the eyes of the women in his life starting with his wife. What tragedies his wife, daughter-in-law and daughter had to live through and endure to support John and his beliefs. The characters are excellently drawn and the scenery exceptionally described. The clash between those who believe in slavery and abolitionists is starkly drawn. This book is highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.