Penelope: A Novel of New Amsterdam

by Jim McFarlane

Overview

A Tale of Adventure in Colonial America Inspired by the True Story of Penelope Stout.
In 1640s Amsterdam, the richest city in Europe, near-penniless Penelope dreams of voyaging to America to search for her merchant-father who disappeared on a secretive get-rich-quick scheme. To voyage requires a husband or guardian. Matthew, her betrothed, dreams of finding a new home in America for his congregation of English Separatists like the Pilgrims did a generation ago. But the elders of Matthew’s congregation accuse Penelope of immoral behavior that threatens to expel Penelope from the congregation, from Matthew’s life, and from her dream.
She can't wait to escape Amsterdam but never imagines the dangers that await her in the New World.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940016085258
Publisher:	Twisted Cedar Press
Publication date:	01/04/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	371
File size:	530 KB

About the Author

Jim McFarlane was tracing the family genealogy when he came across the story of his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother who was shipwrecked on her first day in America, was mutilated by Indians on her third day and was left for dead on the beach along with her dead husband. She survived, was ransomed, remarried, bore 10 children and lived to a ripe old age.

Fascinated by this tale, Jim studied the history of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam and located (in the history books) a shipwreck that matched the scant details of Penelope's ordeal. Frustrated with the lack of facts, Jim was compelled to write Penelope as a novel, which provided opportunities to embellish with a murder mystery, pirates, banishment from Peter Stuyvesant's house, a little romance, and additional dangers for Penelope. Jim hopes that Penelope’s story of raw survival will encourage us to overcome our own troubles and hope for a better future.

Jim lives in Greer, SC with his wife. He is the father of 4 grown children, one of whom owns Greenville’s local independent bookstore, Fiction Addiction. During seven years of writing and rewriting this novel, Jim had adventures of his own: being told it was time to retire, then spending 2 years building his own house including one visit to the emergency room with lots of CAT scans (or so he was told; he doesn’t remember), and publishing this book.