Historical Society September Program

The Historical Society of Watertown and The Watertown Free Public Library

invite you to attend

an Author Talk by John Smolens

 “The Schoolmaster’s Daughter”

A novel of the American Revolution

 With the outbreak of the American Revolution, Abigail Lovell’s family is torn apart while her schoolmaster father is an outspoken loyalist and prominent figurehead in the community, she and her two brothers engage in acts of espionage to undermine the British forces in Boston. Her sickly older brother, James, operates the patriots’ spy ring while Abigail acts as a courier, eluding increasingly aggressive British patrols. Meanwhile, her younger brother, Benjamin, slips out of Boston to fight alongside Abigail’s love, Ezra, at Concord and Bunker Hill. With the help of her friend, Rachel Revere, Abigail smuggles money and supplies out to the gathering patriot forces.

The Schoolmaster’s Daughter is the story of a family torn asunder—and of a determined young woman who must make courageous decisions if she is to aid in liberating her country.

John Smolens is author of seven works of fiction, including Cold; The Invisible World; Fire Point; and The Anarchist. He earned a BA from Boston College, an MA from the University of New Hampshire, and an MFA from the University of Iowa.  A professor of English at Northern Michigan University, he was named Michigan Author of the Year 2010 by the Michigan Library Association. Visit his website at www.johnsmolens.com.