Book Review: Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark
This short, sweet novel follows two timelines: young George as he enters manhood, and aged George after the war, preparing to pass the seat of President to John Adams.
If there could be a lesson learned from the whole of the disgrace, it was this: Never again would he hold his tongue when he knew he was in the right. Henceforth he would speak his mind plainly and forcibly.
— Mount Vernon Love Story, Mary Higgins Clark
Historical fiction is a great door by which we can step into important events of the past. It offers us a sense of being closer to important figures that shaped our world.
While creative license is taken in most cases to create a plot—especially in cases where little is known about the person—there remains great value in a well-written historical fiction. It’s a way for us to meet our heroes. Even if not every detail is accurate, it is a rewarding sensation.
Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark is not a new book. It popped up in my Amazon suggestions list while I was looking for further reading material for my upcoming post about Mary Washington, the mother of George Washington. (Click here to buy yourself a copy!)
Hooked by the straightforward title, I clicked the link—and soon found myself caught in the narrative. This gem of a novel begins with a scene from the Founding Father’s childhood.
While overall I enjoyed this story, I found myself frustrated by the portrayal of his mother. Mary Ball Washington is depicted as hearsay describes her: strict, quick to anger, and often cruel.
Having read an account of her life, I imagine that she wasn’t gentle as a lamb. Still, it felt as if great emphasis was placed on her hardness—which wouldn’t be a problem if she’d been given a chance of reconciliation at the end. I believe that there is a scene where such a reconciliation was attempted by the author, but it was not satisfying for me.
I assume that the scenes of her disciplining George are meant to illustrate how he became a general. It was, truly, the only thing I did not enjoy about this book; Mary Ball Washington was so much more than that dreadful, strict mother.
Having said this, I must clarify that I did like the book. The story itself is easy to follow, sprinkled with moments of almost-romance in George’s life as he enters manhood.
By that time, he is mostly concerned with the reparations of his home, Mount Vernon. He does not demonstrate great interest in being married, and the one person he does fall for as a youth is unavailable to him. He enjoys dancing and is considered to be excellent at it, but when interacting with other women, George comes across as reserved and awkward.
It is endearing to read of our first President struggling with some of the same troubles most of us face today.
He remains a bachelor, fully invested in making his Mount Vernon into something beautiful, until he meets Mrs. Martha Custis (or, as she prefers to be called, Patsy). Though she is married the first time that they meet, George finds himself picturing her in Mount Vernon once it is finished. He thinks to himself, wryly, that every time he finds a woman who could fit the bill, she is unavailable to him. This is but a passing thought; he returns quickly to the ball, putting the matter behind him…for now.
Some time later, all of a sudden, Patsy becomes a widow. George’s first thought is not to marry her—but he does seek her company whenever possible. He learns about her late husband and her two children. She laments that her youngest, three-year-old Little Patsy, is fatherless—but also that Little Patsy is frail. She was born a sickly child, and continues to struggle with her ailment as she grows into a young lady.
It is after much consideration that George asks Patsy for her hand, and they marry.
This book follows two timelines: young George as he is leaving his mother’s house and participating in his first battles, and aged George after retirement, more than happy to leave the seat of President to John Adams.
These two timelines offer a remarkable balance: we are given glimpses of history with tastes of romantic exchanges, shared dreams as the newlyweds witness the world changing around them. Patsy remains at her husband’s side when he becomes President, and she continues to support him until his last term is finished.
George, in turn, offers Patsy a steady hand to hold when Little Patsy’s illness continues. His is a steady shoulder to cry on when tragedy strikes. He honors her opinion regarding the reparations of Mount Vernon, allowing her to make alterations of her own choosing. She is given authority to continue adding to it while he is off doing his work as general—and, later, President.
While I know this is a piece of fiction, it brought me a nearness to George that cannot be found in “official” history books. It is the magic of fiction: restoring humanity to figures who would otherwise be but myths to us.
It is tender and sweet; it is family-friendly, just-kisses, so it can be enjoyed by young people as well.
I know that I will be returning to this book in the future. It provides a range of different emotions, ultimately leading up to a happy ending. It is entertaining, opening a window into what our nation might have been like as it was first being formed. It also offers a glimpse of the man who played such a crucial part in its formation.
I recommend Mount Vernon Love Story to anyone who has an interest in American history and the Founding Fathers. I also recommend it to those who enjoy a good love story that they can share with their children without awkward scenes. It is bound to ignite in young bookworms a healthy curiosity for history, encouraging them to search for more figures who were prominent in the birth of our nation.
Do you have a favorite novel in the historical fiction genre? It doesn’t have to be American history; it just has to be based in the past. I would love to hear your recommendations as I search for more works of gripping historical fiction!
