“On the 7th of July, came the heathens in great number, upon the village in the middle of the night. And I was awake with my babe when I saw fire at the stockades and heard shots and shouting. Then my husband woke, and bid me hide with the child. Swiftly, he ran to lock the door, but then they breachd it and struck him down and murderd him, still in his nightclothes. Then came one and orderd me to follow, but such was my fear I could not move, though the house was burning and cinders were falling from the rafters. I thought I should prefer to die with my husband than go with these murderous creatures, but the heathen grabbd me and my babe.”
The defining characteristic of this novel is that it tells multiple stories of many characters from various perspectives. The unifying element in this narrative is the setting. Each of the characters is examined as residents of the titular setting within the limited scope of the era in which they lived. This passage, for example, is not necessarily representative of the whole. It is told in the form of a first-person letter written by a young woman with obviously limited education. The misspellings in this excerpt are verbatim as they appear in the story and this particular aspect is utilized to convey a great deal about the character and the time. In addition, the specificity of her idiosyncratic language also assists in determining the basic period being covered. “Heathens” within this context strongly suggests a certain segment of the population and this suggestion is later confirmed when the writer identifies them as “Indians.” This is a term that would be less likely to appear if written in the more politically correct era of the present. The preference for writing “7th of July” rather than simply “July 7” immediately hints at a more formal period sometime in the past. The geographical setting is identified explicitly right from the title, so the ability to keep track of the time element in the setting is of great importance in keeping track of what is happening in the narrative.
“I also wanted to thank a few people whose aid and counsel have been of inestimable value. On more than a few occasions, Ed Franklin has lent me his MetalQuest 3000, even after I accidentally broke his first one. For those of you who have wielded that puppy, you know you are in command of the true king of the handhelds — try to find a Puritan shoe clasp at the Chicopee Exxon with a Detecto F25 or a Pinpoint WS10! [Pause for laughter.]”
The unidentified speaker delivering this address to a historical society is less direct in identifying the time in which it takes place, but very precise in identifying the setting. Or, at least, the region in which the story is set. Once again, the reader must parse the language to make a guess, although later in the speech, the speaker will reference a similar address given by another person back in 1951. This address is also notable for how the speaker casually mentions very specific items that may help sharpen the exact period. Most readers should have no trouble identifying an Exxon gas station even if they have no idea where Chicopee is situated. Most will likely have greater difficulty identifying a “MetalQuest 3000” or “Detecto F25.” The identifications are helped contextually when the speaker suggests that they can be used to find a metal shoe clasp. What the speaker is discussing here are models of metal detectors. This particular item is a perfect choice for symbolizing how the past impacts the future in this setting even in the smallest and most literally overlooked ways. That the writer has written and italicized the reminder to wait for the audience to laugh confirms that whatever he is saying about these metal detectors is funny to those in the know. Although characterization is not the primary literary element at the forefront of this book, this detail does serve to flesh out the personality of this unidentified speaker.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a true New England treasure. For countless generations, `Catamount Acres’ has offered peace and tranquility to its owners. Recently renovated and returned to its 18th-century footprint, this tastefully appointed house could serve as either a stylish weekend retreat or a full-time work-from-home abode. The historic 1760 saltbox includes two sky-lit bedrooms, a modern kitchen with walk-in pantry, and a luxurious, yet intimate dining room.”
This passage occurs near the end of the book and is suggestive of the chronological arrangement of chapters. The setting has come a long way from the wilderness of the first passage quoted above. This segment serves to exemplify the fundamental theme of the novel: how land remains the same despite the march of progress. “Catamount Acres” is perhaps the very same piece of property on which the woman above described an attack by heathen Indians. The persistent and insistent reminder of the age of this home as a major marketing point also serves to underline the theme. Those who wish to purchase this home and “feel” some sort of connection to the colonial past of North America likely will go about their daily lives rejecting more concrete ways of manifesting that connection. The home will feature indoor toilets instead of an outhouse. It will be lit by electricity or gas rather than candles and fireplaces. The utilization of such an advertisement within the structure of this book highlights the ways that the past is nostalgically refashioned to supposedly give a “sense” of time without actually forcing the disadvantages of those periods which more accurately reflect the “sense” of the past.
