Jessamyn West
Except for Me and Thee (1949)
Author: Jessamyn West
Genre: Gentle (Religious/Quaker/Christian)
Plot Summary:
This story follows the move of Jess and Eliza Birdwell, a young Ohio Quaker couple, to southern Indiana. The book then jumps forward to a number of specific events in the life of the couple and, later, their children. Each tale is told with humor and wit and highlights Jess and Eliza’s old-fashioned Quaker values and life in early Indiana. The couple settles in Indiana sometime around 1840, suffers through losing a child to disease, raising their other children, an adventure with the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and familial conflicts inherent in the generational gaps created by accelerating pace of American life and politics. The book starts simply and keeps its focus on farm life, but slowly the outside world makes its way up the long drive to the Birdwell house. The first major issue encountered is the issue of slavery. Jess becomes a conductor on the Underground Railroad and the author uses this opportunity to explore the issue of slavery within the context of Jess and Eliza’s Quaker values. The chapter on the Civil War focuses on Eliza’s reactions to her two son’s involvement in the war—and takes an odd twist when a wounded Confederate soldier shows up on the Birdwell doorstep. The book closes with Jess and Eliza reacting to the introduction of political debate at the family table as their children grow older and the rising popularity of the Christmas holiday, which was not a major Quaker holiday.
Geographical Location: southern Indiana, eastern Ohio, northern Illinois
Time Period: 1800s-1870s
Series: companion to The Friendly Persausion
Appeal Characteristics:
This book should appeal to people seeking an Indiana author, a book set in Indiana, or a book about settler life in early Indiana. It should also appeal to people interested in Quakers and, perhaps, Mennonite. There is some discussion of the differences between Quakers and Methodists. The most interesting appeal of this book—to me, at least—was reading of the reaction of the protagonists to the encroachment of the outside world (especially in the wake of the Civil War) onto their, until then, rather isolated farm. Much of this stems from a generational difference, and it reminded me of the conflicts I sometimes have with my own parents. For instance, the Birdwell children get into an argument about the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Jess isn’t at all interesting in some of the bickering involved, and his daughter Mattie tries to get her brothers and husband to stop arguing about politics in front of their parents. I relate because I’ve also learned not to discuss politics in front of my parents. The debate about Christmas that closes the book is also interesting. But don’t let my interest in the debates outlined in the book lead one to believe that these are the only appeals of this book. It was a somewhat fast-paced read with many interesting insights into post-Colonial life in Indiana. The characters were very well-developed—especially Jess and Eliza. I also liked Jess’s sense of humor—which came across well thanks to West’s writing skills.
Read-alikes: Philip Gulley is an Indiana author who has also written a number of titles set in “old timey” Indiana; also try the many other books written by Jessamyn West.
Red Flags: None
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