We are very excited to have Barbara Luetke join us during our Adult Forum time this First Day. Barbara is the author of the book, The Kendal Sparrow and will do a book sharing for us. She is in Greensboro doing research for a new novel.
Please find the description of the novel that she is currently researching below.
The Remarkable Lives of Rachel Wells Cook and Charity Wright Cook:
Feminism, Quakerism, and Anti-Racism in the 18th Century.
IN 1749 AS PART OF THE QUAKER MIGRATION, YOUNG RACHEL WELLS WRIGHT(1720 – 1771) AND HER HUSBAND JOHN TRAVEL SOME 400-MILES ON FOOT AND BY HORSEBACK FROM MARYLAND TO RURAL CANE CREEK, NC. ALONG WITH OTHER COLONIAL FRIENDS THEY BEGAN A NEW QUAKER SETTLEMENT, DETERMINED TO SURVIVE THE DIFFICULTIES OF FRONTIER LIFE. RACHEL TEAMED WITH HER HUSBAND TO RAISED SIXTEEN CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM UPHELD THE FAITH OF FRIENDS. ALONG WITH ABIGAIL PIKE, RACHEL FORGED WOMEN’S MEETINGS ALL OVER THE SOUTHEAST AND SERVED AS A RECORDED ITINERANT “PUBLIC”MINISTER.
One of the Rachel’s children was the renowned Quaker minister,Charity Wright Cook (1746-1822). Her life paralleled the 18th century history of Quaker migration from colonial Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and later, to Ohio and Indiana. Themes embedded in this historical novel are relevant today: Charity’s sexual assault; her disownment and separation from her faith community (think the “Me Too” movement); her family’s peace position in the French-Indian war; and her belief in racial equality (think “Black Lives Matter”). Charity lived during the era of the Quaker Quietist Period, the Underground Railroad, and the forming of deep friendships between European-American Quakers and African-Americans. Written to impart Quaker history, the novel can also serve as a resource for those whose family histories include Friends as well as those who are interested in the lives of 18th century women.
While she is in Greensboro, she is hoping Friends will feel led to contribute towards funding her research. For more information on how to support Barbara’s work financially, please find information below.
Barbara has also shared a number of books that she believes would be of interest to Friends. Please find the links for those books below.
https://quakerbooks.org/products/radical-friend?_pos=2&_sid=03dc156e3&_ss=r
https://quakerbooks.org/products/unbound-a-novel-in-verse?_pos=3&_sid=03dc156e3&_ss=r