I love to learn about history through novels. In my mind, facts and dates get blurry pretty quickly, but if I can picture a human experience, a time already spent becomes vivid and clear and sparks my curiosity to learn even more. The Next Ship Home is a piece of historical fiction that does exactly that.
This novel is set in 1902, a time of mass immigration into the US through Ellis Island. Through two different perspectives - one woman arriving and another who is employed at the immigration centre - this novel speaks to the human experience of that time period. Both Francesca, a young Italian immigrant who is escaping a difficult past with her disease-ridden sister; and Alma, an unmarried woman forced into employment by her step-father, are characters that pull you into the complexity of their different struggles. The two women become friends and their lives become integrally entwined as they both navigate personal and systemic challenges.
For me, this book is as much about feminism and the strength of women as it is about a historical time period and the many issues of racism, corruption, and abuse that people faced. It can be tempting to relegate women to singularities when we think about the past - their roles defined and predictable and structured - but in reality women from all points in history had unique and powerful personalities with their own perspectives and interests and dreams. Alma, for instance, wants desperately to become a translator and must sneak in ways to study and develop her skills. And as a new immigrant, Francesca faces even more daunting circumstances and we see the strength of her independence and self-reliance. I loved this book because it told a powerful story of humanity and female strength through the complexities of families, romantic pursuits, societial expectations, and physical challenges.
On a personal note, I had the privilege to meet the author, Heather Webb, at a writers' retreat in 2018. We have stayed in touch and she has given me so much support as an emerging author, including editorial guidance on Fault Lines, which I am currently working to publish. Thank you, Heather for writing beautiful and powerful novels, and for supporting writers on their journies.
https://heatherwebbauthor.com/site/
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