The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh

Alice Dalgliesh

Alice Dalgliesh was an American author and book editor who wrote over 40 children's books, mostly illustrated by Katherine Milhous...

 is the story of a young girl who travels with her father into Connecticut

Connecticut

Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...

 during the early 18th century, and her experiences with the native Schaghticoke

Schaghticoke

Schaghticoke may refer to:* Schaghticoke , New York* Schaghticoke , New York* Schaghticoke...

. It was published in 1954 and received a Newbery Honor Award.

The story

Sarah accompanies her father in his journey to set up their farm in a newly purchased plot in New Milford

New Milford, Connecticut

New Milford is a town in southern Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States north of Danbury, on the Housatonic River. It is the largest town in the state in terms of land area at nearly . The population was 28,671 according to the Census Bureau's 2006 estimates...

. Once they arrive, Sarah and her father begin scouting the land he has bought. They are approached by the people who lived there, the Schaghticoke. Sarah is frightened because of rumors she has heard from children about the "Indians" they would encounter, but finds that the Schaghticoke are friendly to her and her father. They teach them the things they will need to know to survive. In the story, Sarah gives the "Indians" new Christian names, and is given credit as the first teacher in New Milford.

History

Alice Dalgliesh begins the book with an author's note. In the note, she explicitly states that this is a "true story" and makes a reference to "records" of events. There is still much research that needs to be completed to verify the "facts" presented in this book. As it stands, the New Milford Historical Society holds the majority of the resources for this research. Currently, there is research under way to study the sources that have made this book a mainstay in the education system.

Controversy

The story's treatment of native people in the North East is a product of Anglicanism

Anglicanism

Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...

. Many people have spoken out about the story; however because the story is so widely used in school curriculum, the criticisms are ignored. The controversy surrounding the story was also linked to the anger many people had about the statue erected for Sarah Noble.

Reviews

The New York Times Book Review said of The Courage of Sarah Noble "This one is to be long remembered for its beautifully written beauty and simplicity." The American lists it among their best books for 1954 for juveniles to read. Despite this praise, the book has been criticised by many academics and historians. The review from Oyate http://www.oyate.org/ is much more detailed in its analysis of content, citing that "The Courage of Sarah Noble was published in 1954, and it is very much a product of its time—a time that has come and gone."