The Minister's Wooing

Harriet Beecher Stowe's The Minister's Wooing, first published in 1859, is a historical novel set in 18th-century Newport, Rhode Island, that humorously explores themes of slavery, Protestant theology, and gender dynamics. The story centers on Mary Scudder, who lives with her widowed mother and is torn between her admiration for the dedicated Calvinist minister Dr. Hopkins, who advocates for abolition, and her love for the adventurous James Marvyn, who seeks excitement at sea. This rich narrative offers insights into the moral and intellectual landscape of early America while satirizing the rigidities of Calvinism.