... recommended that all correspondence between family and friends to be destroyed, for fear of it being misinterpreted and used against them for imprisonment. Peoples finances were all pulled tight. Food, mostly meat and flour, was often rare to come by even so Rose often gave to the needy along the river which was strongly looked down upon, but was a selfless act and rare. To ... obtain passes in and out of the city and travel between the lands was often very expensive and dangerous, often Rose would use her contacts to go where she needed ... was asked to write letters of protest, appea...

• Word Count: 2140
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... intrigue most readers. The role of men and women of 17th century society are defined vividly in this book. Many examples to the way that married and unmarried ladies should act are given (p. 99). Actions such as strolling by the river, or riding up a hill in a carriage were out of place for women; instead women were expected stay home, serve their husband, and raise children. Mr. Spence gives ... yet another vivid example of how women were treated in the story of the man who let his wife ... take over the family business for six months. When the tax collector came to collect, he ... ...

• Word Count: 1409
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... . At the age of five, she has already picked the "right habits". This is evidence from the way she imitated what her mother did. The most obvious habits are carrying of dolls, and pretending to breastfeed them. Other habits included pretending to cook, wash clothes and play a nurse. It is around this age that the mother introduced to her simpler duties like drawing water from the river or fetching ... firewood. She would be given a container small enough for her age to carry water in or when fetching firewood, small bundle would be tied for her to carry home. At that age she will also be...

• Word Count: 2353
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Fish gains a spiritual bond with the water, and throughout several parts of the novel he cries "The water!" Longing to be returned to it, to be reunited with his spiritual side. However his family is reluctant to let Fish near the river. The house is personified in the novel and is very much apart of the family. Sam talks about selling it, however the "black fella" convinces him that ... it is not his to sell. The house is alive and Fish hears it talking. Also the spirits that haunt the library give the house a numinous feel. Later the evil spirits are dispelled when Quick ... always i...

• Word Count: 1583
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School