The Peaceable Kingdom: An American Saga
Encyclopedia
The Peaceable Kingdom: An American Saga (1972) is a historical novel
in two parts by Quaker
author Jan de Hartog
. It describes the first meeting of George Fox
and Margaret Fell
, the latter's conversion, and a portion of the history of colonial
Pennsylvania
.
Terry Linkletter of Amazon.com
has said this about the novel:
"de Hartog's novel is the best way to learn what it means to be a Quaker. By looking through the eyes of fictional characters, he takes you deep into events (some true, some mythical) in the lives of George Fox
, Margaret Fell
, William Penn
, John Woolman
, and other prominent members of the sect, so you can feel the spiritual ferment of Cromwell's England
, the American colonies, and the young USA. You will see a gentle Quaker farmer come to grips with the evils of slaveholding and see how it came to be that these people led the way in opposing that institution. Perhaps not surprising at all is to learn how it was the Quaker women who made the faith's continuous message of justice and non-violence a successful influence on an injust, violent society."
The allure of the novel is in the characters' metamorphosis from self-serving often dislikable characters, to people who work for the good of others. The story shows the precedence of Quaker prison reform and social justice. It also illustrates plain speech and gives a fairly accurate portrayal of a Quaker Meeting.
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
in two parts by Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
author Jan de Hartog
Jan de Hartog
Jan de Hartog was a Dutch playwright, novelist and occasional social critic who moved to the United States in the early 1960s and became a Quaker.- Early years :...
. It describes the first meeting of George Fox
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
and Margaret Fell
Margaret Fell
Margaret Fell or Margaret Fox was a founder of the Religious Society of Friends. Known popularly as the "mother of Quakerism", she is considered one of the Valiant Sixty early Quaker preachers and missionaries.-Life:...
, the latter's conversion, and a portion of the history of colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Terry Linkletter of Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
has said this about the novel:
"de Hartog's novel is the best way to learn what it means to be a Quaker. By looking through the eyes of fictional characters, he takes you deep into events (some true, some mythical) in the lives of George Fox
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
, Margaret Fell
Margaret Fell
Margaret Fell or Margaret Fox was a founder of the Religious Society of Friends. Known popularly as the "mother of Quakerism", she is considered one of the Valiant Sixty early Quaker preachers and missionaries.-Life:...
, William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
, John Woolman
John Woolman
John Woolman was an American itinerant Quaker preacher who traveled throughout the American colonies and in England, advocating against cruelty to animals, economic injustices and oppression, conscription, military taxation, and particularly slavery and the slave trade.- Origins and early life...
, and other prominent members of the sect, so you can feel the spiritual ferment of Cromwell's England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the American colonies, and the young USA. You will see a gentle Quaker farmer come to grips with the evils of slaveholding and see how it came to be that these people led the way in opposing that institution. Perhaps not surprising at all is to learn how it was the Quaker women who made the faith's continuous message of justice and non-violence a successful influence on an injust, violent society."
The allure of the novel is in the characters' metamorphosis from self-serving often dislikable characters, to people who work for the good of others. The story shows the precedence of Quaker prison reform and social justice. It also illustrates plain speech and gives a fairly accurate portrayal of a Quaker Meeting.
- ISBN 0-689-10482-0