– “The Hidden Hand” – A Review

Continuing along on our quest for good American literature, I read to my sisters and my Mom “The Hidden Hand” by E.D.E.N. Southworth. Honestly, I finished this about – well – eight months ago or more? Sometime in the summer of last year I think… Before August… no wait! It was before June… I must have finished it in May? Perhaps March? So more than a year ago… I just haven’t reviewed it until now – odd, come to think of it…

Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth was born on the 26^th of December in the year 1819. She was married in the year 1840 to a man by the name of Frederick Southworth. This man, however, deserted her and her children four years later. Mrs. Southworth began writing to support herself and her children. In her lifetime, she penned more than 60 novels, including “Ishmael” and “Self-Raised”. She died on the 30^th of June, 1899.

“The Hidden Hand” was originally published in serial form in 1859, appearing in the “New York Ledger”. It wasn’t until 1888 that it was published in novel form. The book I read was published in 2007 by Lamplighter Publishing. The book is 61 chapters in length, extending over 464 pages.

“The Hidden Hand” is a tale of adventure, excitement, love, hatred, revenge and redemption. Old Hurricane is gruff and quick to display his temper but truly kindhearted beneath his rough exterior. It was this kind heart that leads him to adopt a little street waif, Capitola by name and brings her up as his own. In another town a young man named Traverse is taken under the wing of a doctor, who ultimately gives Traverse his blessing to marry his daughter after his death. Meanwhile the resident villain finds out that young Clara, Traverse’s fiancé, is wealthy and if he can keep her in his guardianship, he can keep her money in his hands. However, Clara is true to her fiancé and will not break her engagement, so Gabriel Le Noir must find some way of destroying young Traverse, while assisting his equally evil son in the destruction of Captitola…

I did enjoy this book, though not as heartily as some others, still a great deal. Clara Day is probably my favorite character. She is so sweet and gentle, patient and kind, that you simply love her for her forbearance alone.

Warning: This book does contain a questionable element, where a woman claims to read a young lady’s palm and tell her future. The young lady laughs in her face, claiming she’s just a crazy woman but the woman’s claims aren’t wholly refuted.

I would recommend this book, but only to mature readers. I did read it to my sisters but only on a slightly edited basis…

To the KING be all the glory!