A Romance of the Republic

by Lydia Maria Child, Dana Nelson (Editor)

A Romance of the Republic , published in 1867, was Lydia Maria Child's fourth novel and the capstone of her remarkable literary career. Written shortly after the Civil War, it offered a progressive alternative to Uncle Tom's Cabin . Writer, magazine publisher and outspoken abolititionist, Child defied the norms of gender and class decorum in this novel by promoting interracial marriage as a way blacks and whites could come to view each other with sympathy and understanding. In constructing the tale of fair-skinned Rosa and Flora Royal―daughters of a slaveowner whose mother was also the daughter of a slaveowner―Child consciously attempted to counter two popular that racial intermarriage was "unnatural" and that slavery was a benevolent institution. But Child's target was not merely racism. Her characters are forced both to reconsider their attitudes toward "white" and "black" and to question the very foundation of the patriarchal society in which they live.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Classics

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1867

About the author

Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) was an activist and writer of novels, pamphlets, and works for children. She often used her writing to advocate for slaves, women, and Native Americans. Lydia Maria Child was born in Medford, Massachusetts, where her grandfather’s house, which she celebrates in her poem, still stands.

Reviews

[bananajo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads like a drama. I could see this as a TV series or a movie. There is romance and twisty plotlines, and commentary on racism and slavery. There is a time-skip of nineteen years between parts one and two. I'd be curious how this book was received at its time. There are definitely parts that I think ring true in today's society and thoughts, so it'd be interesting to see how this would be viewed next to modern commentary on the same subjects.

(March 2026)

[Terre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dana D. Nelson's introduction informed my reading of this work so I understood and read this on an entirely other level.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did my honors thesis on how this Civil War novel was a retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This, folks, is what Twain "borrowed" for "Pudd'nhead Wilson."