Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton by Sarah Bates
Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc. (February 15, 2016)
Category: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance
Tour Dates: Oct/Nov, 2016
ISBN: 978-1634910262
ASIN: B01D6YS52G
Available in: Print & ebook, 420 Pages
From award winning author, Sarah Bates, Johnstown, New York, 1823: It is a time when a wife’s dowry, even children, automatically becomes her husband’s property. Slavery is an economic advantage entrenched in America but rumblings of abolition abound.
For Elizabeth Cady to confront this culture is unheard of, yet that is exactly what she does. Before she can become a leader of the women’s rights movement and prominent abolitionist, she faces challenges fraught with disappointment. Her father admires her intellect but says a woman cannot aspire to the goals of men. Her sister’s husband becomes her champion–but secretly wants more. Religious fervor threatens to consume her.
As she faces depression and despair, she records these struggles and other dark confidences in diaries. When she learns the journals might fall into the wrong hands and discredit her, she panics and rips out pages of entries that might destroy her hard-fought reputation. Relieved, she believes they are lost to history forever.
But are they? Travel with Elizabeth into American history and discover a young woman truly ahead of her time.
Excerpt:
Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton Excerpt, Page 216-219 (715 words)
Home from college for Christmas Elizabeth finds lively debate with an argumentative law student.
The house bustled with activity the next morning when Elizabeth came down the stairs for breakfast. Four of her father’s law students sat at the table along with her sisters and mother. Each of the young men seemed to be talking at the same time, interrupting to punctuate their comments with a piece of toasted bread or a raised fork.
“Gentlemen, please,” her mother said just as Elizabeth entered the room and a bit of bread flew into the air.
“Oh, I am so sorry Mrs. Cady,” the youngest of the men said, rising to his feet to retrieve the crust from the floor. His cheeks reddened. He ducked his head in embarrassment when he looked up to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway.
“My daughter, Elizabeth,” her mother said.
“Mrs. Cady. Miss Cady. Excuse my poor manners,” the man said then rushed from the room.
Kate giggled behind her napkin.Elizabeth filled her plate from the sideboard, adding poached eggs, a rasher of bacon and a cup of coffee. She chose a chair directly across from the law students.
“Whatever issue caused that display of flying toast?” she asked, her gaze fixed on Robert Geyer, the shortest of the men, whose collar bit into his neck.
“The issue of abolition, Miss Cady,” he replied. “We have been studying the possibility of changes to the law with your father and arrived at differing opinions.”
Elizabeth took her time adding milk and sugar to her coffee before she responded.
“So you know his opinion on the subject?”
“I do. He wishes to abolish the practice of owning slaves and I am not sure he is correct.”
“How so? He is your teacher and you are a pupil. Do you not consider that his views might be correct?”
“Well, yes I do, but historically–”
“And history is merely a change in the ways things are done,” Elizabeth interrupted. “So, perhaps abolishing slavery, which is dreadful and a demeaning condition, is history in the making.”
“Pardon, Miss, but you do not know the implications of abolition. The country’s economy would slip behind. Farmers would lose money. We would all suffer if the price of goods gained as a result of losing the slave labor force.”
“Why do you presume I would not know that line of discourse?” Elizabeth asked.
Geyer stuttered, his expression that of surprise. “It is a topic for men, Miss,” he said. “Not for the delicate ears of women.”
Edward Bayard entered the room and stopped to listen.
“Sir, our Constitution says ‘all men are created equal.’ It does not say ‘all but Negro men.’” Elizabeth continued. “When the ink on the Constitution was still wet, the abolitionist Thomas Jay claimed it a hypocrisy to be an American patriot and, as he said, ‘brandish a whip over his affrighted slaves.’” Elizabeth pressed her point. “Argument for its sake alone is futile, but to shed light on an old tired law when the future looms bright and promising is to argue that change is good.”
Elizabeth’s sisters looked on in silence, stunned. However, the remaining law students dispatched their meal with haste and excused themselves, along with Robert Geyer, to return to Judge Cady’s law office.
“Your powers of argument have grown, Lib,” Edward said.
“It is your coaching, my husband,” said Tryphena.
“No, it is her education,” Edward said.
“You made Mr. Geyer spit on his waistcoat, Lib,” said Kate.
“I think he might be quite sick,” Madge said, “having lost an argument to a girl.
When I go to Emma Willard I shall learn to speak up just like you do.”
Elizabeth looked up from her plate where she buttered the last bit of toast and added strawberry jam. “Girls have every right to speak up,” she said.
Her mother sighed. “Daughters, do not vex me so,” she said.
*
December 16, 1831
Dear Diary, Mother is up, having recovered from losing the baby. Now,two brothers I might have loved. However, we are thoroughly involved in Christmas preparations that brighten everyone. Father’s law students are about the house as usual, dining with us and speaking their opinions when asked, and when not asked as well. I have found one whose comments are more displeasing than informed. People with closed minds infuriate me.
Praise for Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton by Sarah Bates
“Secrets of a suffragette. After six years of research and writing, author Sarah Bates has published a new novel detailing the early life of suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Bates crafted a historical novel weaving fictitious scenes around real events resulting in a story that reveals Elizabeth Cady the girl, who would become the famous suffragette. Throughout the novel, diary pages containing her innermost thoughts depict the fight for equality Cady faced in the 1800s.”-Village News
“a likely glimpse into what influenced her strong leanings for women’s rights, and for abolishing slavery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning about the woman who was instrumental in forwarding the cause for women. She was a remarkable character, much before her time. This book is an encouragement to dig deeper into the history of our country and the amazing people who led the way.”- Jackie Wolfred, Goodreads Reviewer
“Reads like a novel, embraces well-researched facts like a work of non-fiction, and takes you through the early life of a woman’s suffrage pioneer. The book is an accurate and well-researched history done by a master of the descriptive word, thought and sentence.”- Dan Feltham, Amazon Reviewer
“A must read for anyone, especially those who love historical fiction. I picked up the book out of curiosity, and the author’s research and attention to historical details did not disappoint. The reader is pulled into the life of this determined young woman, and lives her triumphs and frustrations in a time where woman fought to have a voice. Very well written, and engaging until the end!”- Buyer KLR, Amazon Reviewer
“Despite the great books written about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Author Sarah Bates has managed to soar beyond the crowd with her refreshing and poignant portrayal of the famous suffragette. Bravo!”-Amazon Reviewer
About Sarah Bates
Sarah Bates worked as an advertising copywriter for ten years then as a freelance writer. Her clients included a book packager, the local chamber of commerce, a travel newsletter and a weekly newspaper where she covered business and schools.
Her short fiction has appeared in the Greenwich Village Literary Review, the San Diego North County Times (now the Union-Tribune) and the literary magazine Bravura. She is the author of Twenty-One Steps of Courage, an Army action novel published in 2012 and co-author of the 2005 short story collection, Out of Our Minds, Wild Stories by Wild Women.
She is the winner of Military Category, for Twenty-One Steps of Courage, Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2013) and 2nd Place Finalist, The Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Unpublished Novel- Category, San Diego Book Awards (2015)
Bates was an English Department writing tutor at Palomar College in California for ten years. She continues to privately tutor both academic and creative writing students and is writing a new novel. Sarah Bates lives in Fallbrook, California.
Website: http://www.sarahbatesauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bateswriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahbatesauthor/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108133638718869926894/posts
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Thanks for taking part in the tour! Good luck to all who enter to win this excellent historical fiction!
I hope all who read this book enjoy it as much as I did writing it. Elizabeth Cady Stanton has been my hero for many years, thus making the writing of this novel a tribute to all she did for women’s rights.