Caroline Lee Hentz
Encyclopedia
Caroline Lee Whiting Hentz (1800–1856) was an American
novelist and author, most noted for her opposition to the abolitionist
movement and her widely-read rebuttal to the popular anti-slavery book, Uncle Tom's Cabin
. She was a major literary figure in her day, and helped advance women's fiction
.
. Both of these Nineteenth Century women hailed from Massachusetts
; both taught alongside their husbands. Both ladies had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
, in 1832, where they became personal friends. To further the similarities for these opposing leaders in the abolitionist debate, both became major nationally known authors of popular fiction.
. After marrying they moved to now Florence, Alabama
and started an all-girl school
called Locust Dell Academy. Some years later, Locust Dell Academy burned down and in its place Willingham Hall was built. This hall can be found on the campus of the University of North Alabama
. Hentz wrote of her love for the area in a poem called La Fayette.
During the early 1830s, Hentz and her husband, along with their three children, moved to North Carolina
.
, published in 1854 in Philadelphia, would be Hentz’s last published and most widely known work before her death two years later.
In this body of work, Caroline Hentz came to the definitive defense of slavery
. Hentz used her expertise, having lived for many years in the South, to claim that she was more knowledgeable about slavery than Stowe. Hentz wrote about the caring relationship between master and slave, a Southern opinion on slavery that strongly contrasted with the New England-bred Stowe's characterization of the institution.
Hentz introduces in this novel several villains, including a busybody who tries to free slaves against their will. In doing this, she tries to discredit the abolitionist argument of inhumane treatment of the Southern slaves. She portrays the people wanting to tear down the institution of slavery as actually being motivated by personal gains, not by a desire to improve mankind. She expanded on this motivation to include the industrial revolution that was taking place in the North, which would require the massive amounts of cheap labor that only the south could give by way of slavery.
. She is buried there in the cemetery of St. Luke's Church.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist and author, most noted for her opposition to the abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
movement and her widely-read rebuttal to the popular anti-slavery book, Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
. She was a major literary figure in her day, and helped advance women's fiction
Women's fiction
Women's fiction is an umbrella term for books that are marketed to female readers, and includes many mainstream novels, romantic fiction, "chick lit,"and other sub genres. It is distinct from Women's writing, which refers to literature written by women...
.
Comparisons with Harriet Beecher Stowe
Caroline Hentz in her everyday life was almost identical to her abolitionist adversary Harriet Beecher StoweHarriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
. Both of these Nineteenth Century women hailed from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
; both taught alongside their husbands. Both ladies had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, in 1832, where they became personal friends. To further the similarities for these opposing leaders in the abolitionist debate, both became major nationally known authors of popular fiction.
Marriage and early career
In 1824, Caroline Whiting married Nicholas Marcellus HentzNicholas Marcellus Hentz
Nicholas Marcellus Hentz was a French American arachnologist. Hentz was born in Versailles, France. He immigrated to the United States in 1816 and became a pioneering zoologist in the field of arachnology....
. After marrying they moved to now Florence, Alabama
Florence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
and started an all-girl school
Female education
Female education is a catch-all term for a complex of issues and debates surrounding education for females. It includes areas of gender equality and access to education, and its connection to the alleviation of poverty...
called Locust Dell Academy. Some years later, Locust Dell Academy burned down and in its place Willingham Hall was built. This hall can be found on the campus of the University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university located in Florence, Alabama, and the state's oldest four-year public university....
. Hentz wrote of her love for the area in a poem called La Fayette.
During the early 1830s, Hentz and her husband, along with their three children, moved to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
The Planter's Northern Bride
The Planter's Northern BrideThe Planter's Northern Bride
The Planter's Northern Bride is an 1854 novel written by Caroline Lee Hentz, in response to the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852.- Overview :...
, published in 1854 in Philadelphia, would be Hentz’s last published and most widely known work before her death two years later.
In this body of work, Caroline Hentz came to the definitive defense of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
. Hentz used her expertise, having lived for many years in the South, to claim that she was more knowledgeable about slavery than Stowe. Hentz wrote about the caring relationship between master and slave, a Southern opinion on slavery that strongly contrasted with the New England-bred Stowe's characterization of the institution.
Hentz introduces in this novel several villains, including a busybody who tries to free slaves against their will. In doing this, she tries to discredit the abolitionist argument of inhumane treatment of the Southern slaves. She portrays the people wanting to tear down the institution of slavery as actually being motivated by personal gains, not by a desire to improve mankind. She expanded on this motivation to include the industrial revolution that was taking place in the North, which would require the massive amounts of cheap labor that only the south could give by way of slavery.
Death
Hentz resided towards the end of her life in Marianna, FloridaMarianna, Florida
Marianna is a city in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,230 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,200 . It is the county seat of Jackson County and is home to Chipola College...
. She is buried there in the cemetery of St. Luke's Church.
Primary works
- Lovell's Folly (1833)
- De Lara, or, The Moorish Bride (1843)
- Aunt Patty's Scrap-bag (1846)
- Linda or, The Young Pilot of the Belle Creole (1850)
- Rena, or, The Snow Bird (1851)
- Eoline (1852)
- Ugly Effie, or, the Neglected One and the Pet Beauty (1852)
- Marcus Warland (1852)
- The Planter's Northern BrideThe Planter's Northern BrideThe Planter's Northern Bride is an 1854 novel written by Caroline Lee Hentz, in response to the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852.- Overview :...
(1854) - The Banished Son (1856)
- Courtship and Marriage (1856)
- Ernest Linwood (1856)
- The Lost Daughter (1857)