Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #124260 in Books
• Published on: 1988-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

Review
E.D.E.N. Southworth was one of the most popular and prolific writers of the nineteenth century and her Capitola Black, or Black Cap - a cross-dressing, adventure-seeking girl-woman - was so well-loved that the book was serialized three times between 1859 and 1888 and was dramatized in forty different versions. When we first meet sharp and witty Capitola she is living among beggars and street urchins, and dressed as a boy because a boy can get work and be safe, whereas a girl is left to starve for want of "proper" employment. Unknown to her, Capitola has a very rich elderly guardian who finds her at a providential moment and takes her back to his palatial mansion where she finds herself "decomposing above ground for want of having my blood stirred." But not to fear. There are bandits, true-loves, evil men, long-lost mothers, and sweet women friends in Capitola's future - not to mention thunder storms, kidnap attempts, and duels. The pace is fast, the action wonderfully unbelievable. This is escape literature at its nineteenth-century best, with a woman at its center who makes you feel strong, daring, and reckless. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Erica Bauermeister

Customer Reviews

A woman-as-heroine melodramatic thriller...a wonderful read!
I first read this book in an American Women Writer's class in graduate school. E.D.E.N. Southworth was creating fearless, independent, intelligent heroines at a time when her contemporary best selling novelists were portraying silent and submissive heroines. Capitola and the other colorful characters in the story are unique and endearing, in spite of their melodramatic qualities. Because this was first a serial publication, every chapter is full of action and fun. I will always recommend this book to friends, and in fact, I am ready to name my first daughter Capitola! Read this book!

Great 19th century story!
This novel, originally written in 1859, begins with Colonel Warfield, "Old Hurricane," being called from his cozy bed into a raging storm to hear the deathbed confession of an old, black slave. It seems that the evil Gabriel Le Noir had killed his brother and taken his pregnant sister-in-law into hiding. This old slave attended the birth of the twins--one stillborn boy, one living girl--and hid the girl and raised her by herself. This girl, Capitola, was now living in New York City and was 13 years old. Old Hurricane fetches the girl and has her live with him as his ward.

Meanwhile, the story of Marah Rocke and her 18 year old son Traverse begins. She's a wholesome, suffering single mother. Traverse is noble and hard-working. They are befriended by Doctor Day and his lovely daughter Clara. Traverse and Clara fall in love, but first, Traverse must establish himself as a doctor and so on. Evil tidings befall, and their love is thwarted. Will it ever work out?

Meanwhile, back at Hurricane Hall, Capitola grows up and is quite a pistol. She's spunky, disobedient, and thoroughly enjoyable to read about. She captures a notorious criminal and escapes from a few of them as well.

But, how do these stories tie together? Who is Col. Warfield's nephew? His estranged wife? How do the evil Le Noirs fit into this story? Will Traverse be shot in the army? Will Clara be force to marry Craven Le Noir? All these tantalizing questions are answered in a clean, entertaining story which leaves you with a happy ending.

If you enjoy adventure with a somewhat predictable outcome, morals entwined in your stories, and don't mind young men who would die for their mothers, then I recommend this book to you. It's not overtly heavy on the morality and sentimentality as some old reprints are. If you're a cynical old jade who doesn't want to spend 400+ pages reading about these folk, then go watch some TV.

Excellent!
I just loved this book. I started out reading it for a class, but the class was cancelled. I finished it anyway, and I think everyone should read this book. Capitola is sassy and brave and daring and smart.Everything a heroine should be!!