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Capitola Black #1
The Hidden Hand
E.D.E.N. Southworth was one of the most popular and prolific writers of the nineteenth century and her Capitola Black, or Black Cap - a cross-dressing, adventure-seeking girl-woman - was so well-loved that the book was serialized three times between 1859 and 1888 and was dramatized in forty different versions. When we first meet sharp and witty Capitola she is living among beggars and street urchins, and dressed as a boy because a boy can get work and be safe, whereas a girl is left to starve for want of "proper" employment. Unknown to her, Capitola has a very rich elderly guardian who finds her at a providential moment and takes her back to his palatial mansion where she finds herself "decomposing above ground for want of having my blood stirred." But not to fear. There are bandits, true-loves, evil men, long-lost mothers, and sweet women friends in Capitola's future - not to mention thunder storms, kidnap attempts, and duels. The pace is fast, the action wonderfully unbelievable. This is escape literature at its nineteenth-century best, with a woman at its center who makes you feel strong, daring, and reckless.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1859
108 people are currently reading
2386 people want to read
About the author
E.D.E.N. Southworth
205 books104 followersEmma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte (aka "E.D.E.N.") Southworth was an American writer of more than 60 novels in the latter part of the 19th century. She was probably the most widely read author of that era.
Some of her earliest works appeared in The National Era, the newspaper that printed Uncle Tom's Cabin. Like her friend Harriet Beecher Stowe, she was a supporter of social change and women's rights. Her first novel, Retribution, a serial for the National Era, published in book form in 1846, was so well received that she gave up teaching and became a regular contributor to various periodicals, especially the New York Ledger.
Her best known work was The Hidden Hand. Most of her novels deal with the Southern United States during the post-American Civil War era.
Some of her earliest works appeared in The National Era, the newspaper that printed Uncle Tom's Cabin. Like her friend Harriet Beecher Stowe, she was a supporter of social change and women's rights. Her first novel, Retribution, a serial for the National Era, published in book form in 1846, was so well received that she gave up teaching and became a regular contributor to various periodicals, especially the New York Ledger.
Her best known work was The Hidden Hand. Most of her novels deal with the Southern United States during the post-American Civil War era.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
March 11, 2012
It is really stunning to encounter such a high-spirited and defiantly independent female character in a novel written over 150 years ago, and, more importantly, is allowed to remain so from the first moment we meet her (disguised as a boy on the mean streets of New York City) to when her remarkable story neatly concludes on the last novel's last page. After encountering so many blonde, wan "angels in the house" in contemporaneous literature, adventurous, dark-haired Capitola Black is nothing less than a revelation. And she's funny too, with a relentlessly sharp tongue, can ride her horse in a way that most men envy, and is even willing to fight a duel when her honor is called into question and no male relative is willing to step in on her behalf.
The story itself occasionally gets bogged down when it meanders onto the plight of other characters--most particularly the dull male ones off fighting valiantly in the war-- and it can come off as stilted and antiquated as melodramatic potboilers of that era almost inevitably do, but that can hardly dim Southworth's impressive proto-feminist achievement in the character and story of Capitola Black.
The story itself occasionally gets bogged down when it meanders onto the plight of other characters--most particularly the dull male ones off fighting valiantly in the war-- and it can come off as stilted and antiquated as melodramatic potboilers of that era almost inevitably do, but that can hardly dim Southworth's impressive proto-feminist achievement in the character and story of Capitola Black.
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November 11, 2008This was the first million seller book in America. Oh, you've never heard of it? Nor had I until very recently. Southworth was one of the "scribbling women" whose blazing popularity kept poor Nathaniel Hawthorne's publishers to busy to bother with his fluff. Featuring a brazen girl who dresses in boys' clothing, with a razor sharp wit, this books is also engrossing, but it might take awhile for it to grab the reader. I read it for a class, and may have struggled with it had I stumbled upon it myself. Just a warning. If you do read it, perhaps you could explain to me why Hawthorne is canonized and not Southworth.
September 19, 2007
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!!! (Thanks SO much Lily for lending it to me!!!) A fascinating mystery/drama set in what I'm guessing is the 1800's. (You can read the entire book here: [http://digital.library.upenn.edu/wome...]
Here are two descriptions of it that I found:
The Hidden Hand is an exuberant action comedy, featuring fearless Capitola Black, a self-styled female Don Quixote, and the prototype of innumerable adventure heroines.
Rescued from life on the streets in New York by a southern plantation owner, with his own reasons for befriending her, Capitola is too active and adventurous to settle for the life of a southern belle. Besides, the neighborhood is infested with evil-doers--Black Donald, the notorious bandit,
and Gabriel Le Noir, the owner of the plantation adjoining--combine to make her life full of excitement and peril.
Serialized three times by popular demand before appearing in book form, The Hidden Hand exudes irresistible high spirits and cheer, and still retains the capacity to surprise and delight that enchanted its first readers.
________
This is NOT your typical Lamplighter Rare Collection book! Strewn with mystery and suspense that never lets up, The Hidden Hand will keep you on the edge of your seat! There are not many books that make me laugh aloud (even when I'm alone!) Truly, laughter is like medicine, giving health to the bones! But please don’t let the feisty, mischievous character of 17-year-old Capitola and the cantankerous personality of Old Hurricane derail you from seeing the gracious providence of an all-wise God in the way He works all things out in an amazing way. A perfect book for older readers to see consequences to actions, and how God uses events and lives to work His sanctification in our lives. A delightful story that will keep you guessing.
Here are two descriptions of it that I found:
The Hidden Hand is an exuberant action comedy, featuring fearless Capitola Black, a self-styled female Don Quixote, and the prototype of innumerable adventure heroines.
Rescued from life on the streets in New York by a southern plantation owner, with his own reasons for befriending her, Capitola is too active and adventurous to settle for the life of a southern belle. Besides, the neighborhood is infested with evil-doers--Black Donald, the notorious bandit,
and Gabriel Le Noir, the owner of the plantation adjoining--combine to make her life full of excitement and peril.
Serialized three times by popular demand before appearing in book form, The Hidden Hand exudes irresistible high spirits and cheer, and still retains the capacity to surprise and delight that enchanted its first readers.
________
This is NOT your typical Lamplighter Rare Collection book! Strewn with mystery and suspense that never lets up, The Hidden Hand will keep you on the edge of your seat! There are not many books that make me laugh aloud (even when I'm alone!) Truly, laughter is like medicine, giving health to the bones! But please don’t let the feisty, mischievous character of 17-year-old Capitola and the cantankerous personality of Old Hurricane derail you from seeing the gracious providence of an all-wise God in the way He works all things out in an amazing way. A perfect book for older readers to see consequences to actions, and how God uses events and lives to work His sanctification in our lives. A delightful story that will keep you guessing.
September 5, 2022
9/4/22 my third read through and I continue to love this book more and more. I can’t wait to read it again.
——————
Everyone should read this hidden gem. Only to us in the 21st century is it hidden. At the time of it being published it was “the” novel. Over a million sold in the US which was something few, if any, had achieved. Hidden Hand is E.D.E.N’s best book but she wrote many great ones.
Hidden Hand is for men and women alike. There is mystery, bandits, relationships, and deep love. You won’t forget Hurricane and Cap even years after you’ve read it.
——————
Everyone should read this hidden gem. Only to us in the 21st century is it hidden. At the time of it being published it was “the” novel. Over a million sold in the US which was something few, if any, had achieved. Hidden Hand is E.D.E.N’s best book but she wrote many great ones.
Hidden Hand is for men and women alike. There is mystery, bandits, relationships, and deep love. You won’t forget Hurricane and Cap even years after you’ve read it.
October 17, 2012
Among my daughters' this is a unanimous favorite. Young Capitola is a feisty spitfire of a girl who would rather face danger than avoid it. In many ways, she has the spirit of another orphan girl (Anne Shirley), but demonstrates her boldness in far more serious, even perilous, situations. Set in pre-Civil War Virginia, this story draws the reader in by means of a relentlessly deepening plot that weaves together the hidden pasts of a fascinating cast of characters. Despite the 500+ page count and an 1800s descriptive writing style (that can be a bit loquacious), each of my daughters (including some who struggle a bit with reading) kept taking the book from each others' bedrooms to read ahead. This story inspires through examples of sterling character, and reveals both the depravity of the human heart, and the providence of a loving God.
January 18, 2022
Just the bomb! This book was fabulous! more in depth review to come
October 3, 2014
It somehow doesn't seem right to review a book that's really only half a book (The "sequel" Capitola's Peril is the other half, and both are available free on kindle).
Well, I didn't love this. I'm not even sure if I liked it. It's a strange little book and has its share of devoted fans but for one reason or another IT and I just didn't 'click '. Some books are like that and you can't force the relationship. It either is or it isnt.
At its beginning, "The Hidden Hand " is a mystery. Then its a comedy. Then a romance, next a sermon and then...it ends. No character felt real enough for me to care what became of them. And primarily for this reason, although the book takes us to a cliffhanger ending where nothing much is resolved and Black Donald is still on the loose, I'm ok with that. I know the answers are all in the sequel but I'm not sure I'm that bothered to find out, even though its free. Isn't that awful?
Please read other reviews for this because I am definitely in the minority on this one and Id hate for you to bypass a book that may be a winner for you. It's free. Give it a go.
MY RATING: G
AGES MOST LIKELY TO ENJOY: 11-17
Well, I didn't love this. I'm not even sure if I liked it. It's a strange little book and has its share of devoted fans but for one reason or another IT and I just didn't 'click '. Some books are like that and you can't force the relationship. It either is or it isnt.
At its beginning, "The Hidden Hand " is a mystery. Then its a comedy. Then a romance, next a sermon and then...it ends. No character felt real enough for me to care what became of them. And primarily for this reason, although the book takes us to a cliffhanger ending where nothing much is resolved and Black Donald is still on the loose, I'm ok with that. I know the answers are all in the sequel but I'm not sure I'm that bothered to find out, even though its free. Isn't that awful?
Please read other reviews for this because I am definitely in the minority on this one and Id hate for you to bypass a book that may be a winner for you. It's free. Give it a go.
MY RATING: G
AGES MOST LIKELY TO ENJOY: 11-17
December 24, 2019
Love! Love! Love this book!
January 22, 2021
This is by far my favorite book I’ve read to date!Absolutely love the story and characters. It’s fascinating to see how all the character’s backgrounds intertwine with one another. Definitely recommend to anyone and everyone! Will say that the first 2-3 chapters are a bit confusing, but it becomes clearer and easier to read as you go along :)
July 29, 2021
At first I thought I would give this 4 stars, but after reading it, the characters stay with you, and I’ve learned much from their own stories and decisions. I see qualities in the characters that I admire and want to emulate in my own life.
July 27, 2008
The Hidden Hand is a wonderful story of good triumphing over evil. Written in 1859, The Hidden Hand contains a wealth of vocabulary from a century ago. It is also interesting to note that the protagonist of the story is a young woman, who through her wit, wisdom, and common sense, makes for a captivating and charming heroine. I also found the minor characters to be equally as engaging. Lamplighter Publishing is a company whose mission is to bring to light hidden treasures of Christian family literature from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This is filled with moral values and hope for those who endure life's hardships with faith. Thank you, Teri, for this lovely gift!
February 28, 2021
A great American gem forgotten upon the dusty shelves of time. Southworth was the most popular novelist of her time in America. Written and placed in the mid 19th century U.S., this work has more action and humor that the contemporary British novels at the time, which focused more on romance. If you like a good, Christian story, read this book. Thankful to Lamplighter Publishing for bringing back into print.
March 13, 2022
Probably one of my most favorite stories ever!!
July 11, 2021
Honestly this wasn’t my favorite book ever, and I’m not quite sure why everyone loves it so much, particularly the MC. Capatola struck me as rebellious and entirely self consumed, while old Hurricane was an old despot and tyrant. I did appreciate most of the supporting characters and the story plot line in general was most captivating as usual for EDEN Southworth. Aside from the glaring flaws of some of the characters going unaddressed or being treated as normal/good, this book overall did present a Christian worldview and Christianity was discussed often and in a positive light. I wold recommend for older teens who have more discernment rather than to younger readers who might take Capitola’s wild free-spiritedness as a good role model.
February 4, 2011
I LOVE Capitola!!! :) What Spirit! Spunk! Clear thinking, priorities in order, unafraid, unwaivering - what a GREAT character! :)
Fabulous story - would make an amazing movie or even better, weekly TV series......could hold an audience for years! :)
evil, deception, heartbreak, unconditional love, brilliant, thoughtful, emotional characters
just loved it!!!
Fabulous story - would make an amazing movie or even better, weekly TV series......could hold an audience for years! :)
evil, deception, heartbreak, unconditional love, brilliant, thoughtful, emotional characters
just loved it!!!
November 9, 2023
the pitfalls of serialization. she ran out of plot halfway through and she just kept on writing, honestly i have to respect it. also love a little cross dressing moment
February 1, 2017
First, this book is well out of copywrite, and is available (amongst probably plenty of other places) here: Archive Link
It also has a sequel: Capitola's Peril
And a play made after it: The Hidden Hand: A Drama in Five Acts
So, there really isn’t any reason – besides the crushing obligations of time – to not read this massively enjoyable book. Though, I do recommend picking up a copy through Rutger’s “American Women Writers” series, as it’s a series well worth your time and patronage.
This book has a strongly Dickensian feel to it – at times, especially early in the book, it relies a bit too heavy on Dickensian coincidences, where everyone who shows up in known to everyone else, typically either by reputation or prior acquaintance – but still retains a firmly American literary feel as well. Even being set in Virginia, it has the feel of a western, though that has more to do with the characters who inhabit it then the setting (in fact, the setting, especially the Hidden House feels like it would be at home in s Bronte book). All that sounds a bit jumbled, but it’s not, all of those facets work well together – the work as a whole is a great deal of fun, with some wonderful characters and a (mostly) breezy plot. E.D.E.N. Southworth created a decidedly non-stereotypical lead character in Capitola, especially for when the book was written; the book does not ignore gender stereotypes, but it does revel in subverting them – it is humorous to see Capitola continuously get the better of the men who underestimate and overlook her due to her gender.
The book is slightly overlong at times – much of the non-Capitola scenes feel like they drag on more than necessary – but that really only applies to a few sections, and most are in some way necessary to move the plot along. The villains are all mostly “bad guy” stereotypes (Donald feels a bit more fleshed out), but it’s a joy to see them get what’s coming to them. Overall a fun and quick-moving read.
It also has a sequel: Capitola's Peril
And a play made after it: The Hidden Hand: A Drama in Five Acts
So, there really isn’t any reason – besides the crushing obligations of time – to not read this massively enjoyable book. Though, I do recommend picking up a copy through Rutger’s “American Women Writers” series, as it’s a series well worth your time and patronage.
This book has a strongly Dickensian feel to it – at times, especially early in the book, it relies a bit too heavy on Dickensian coincidences, where everyone who shows up in known to everyone else, typically either by reputation or prior acquaintance – but still retains a firmly American literary feel as well. Even being set in Virginia, it has the feel of a western, though that has more to do with the characters who inhabit it then the setting (in fact, the setting, especially the Hidden House feels like it would be at home in s Bronte book). All that sounds a bit jumbled, but it’s not, all of those facets work well together – the work as a whole is a great deal of fun, with some wonderful characters and a (mostly) breezy plot. E.D.E.N. Southworth created a decidedly non-stereotypical lead character in Capitola, especially for when the book was written; the book does not ignore gender stereotypes, but it does revel in subverting them – it is humorous to see Capitola continuously get the better of the men who underestimate and overlook her due to her gender.
The book is slightly overlong at times – much of the non-Capitola scenes feel like they drag on more than necessary – but that really only applies to a few sections, and most are in some way necessary to move the plot along. The villains are all mostly “bad guy” stereotypes (Donald feels a bit more fleshed out), but it’s a joy to see them get what’s coming to them. Overall a fun and quick-moving read.
February 13, 2014
Though there's no rule against it, as a general thing I don't like re-arranging or substituting books in my classic club's list. However, when my sister read (and went into raptures over) Lamplighter's classic The Hidden Hand by E.D.E.N. Southworth, I changed my mind- and this book was so worth the read.
Though I found the first few chapters a little slow going, once I passed the first third of the book, I literally couldn't put it down. (this included diving behind my bed to hide from chores so I could finish "just one more chapter") Similar in setting and writing style to Martha Finley's Elsie Dinsmore series, the similarities end there- for our feisty heroine Capitola is certainly no Elsie. In fact, an alternate title for this book is Capitola the Madcap, and it certainly fits! I can't really say that Cap is a good role model or a perfect heroine, but she certainly is a satisfying one. There are so many times when bad guys use intimidation to control people and I'm just like "No! that's what he wants! STAND UP TO HIM!" And Cap did. Oh my goodness, Cap wasn't going to let villains boss her around, not a chance! And I must admit that I also had a really sneaking liking for Black Donald. :)
The one thing that did bother me (but might not some people) was that the author used quite a lot of (unnecessary) exclamation points. However, as a whole I quite loved this book, and my sister did too. There were so many times my mouth dropped open in shock at certain plot twists (one word: Alfred. Two words: Cap's duel) and I had cases of the giggles during the course of this book as well.
(oh, and before Em and I started reading this book {we borrowed it from a friend and so had it in our possession} we went to an antique store and actually found a copy of The Hidden Hand from the 1800s! But we hadn't yet read it and so didn't know how good it was....so we didn't buy it. The moral of the story, children, is if you find an original 1859 copy of this book, BUY IT)
Though I found the first few chapters a little slow going, once I passed the first third of the book, I literally couldn't put it down. (this included diving behind my bed to hide from chores so I could finish "just one more chapter") Similar in setting and writing style to Martha Finley's Elsie Dinsmore series, the similarities end there- for our feisty heroine Capitola is certainly no Elsie. In fact, an alternate title for this book is Capitola the Madcap, and it certainly fits! I can't really say that Cap is a good role model or a perfect heroine, but she certainly is a satisfying one. There are so many times when bad guys use intimidation to control people and I'm just like "No! that's what he wants! STAND UP TO HIM!" And Cap did. Oh my goodness, Cap wasn't going to let villains boss her around, not a chance! And I must admit that I also had a really sneaking liking for Black Donald. :)
The one thing that did bother me (but might not some people) was that the author used quite a lot of (unnecessary) exclamation points. However, as a whole I quite loved this book, and my sister did too. There were so many times my mouth dropped open in shock at certain plot twists (one word: Alfred. Two words: Cap's duel) and I had cases of the giggles during the course of this book as well.
(oh, and before Em and I started reading this book {we borrowed it from a friend and so had it in our possession} we went to an antique store and actually found a copy of The Hidden Hand from the 1800s! But we hadn't yet read it and so didn't know how good it was....so we didn't buy it. The moral of the story, children, is if you find an original 1859 copy of this book, BUY IT)
August 28, 2012
This was an ok book. I was actually surprised that Lamplighter not only published it, but promotes it so highly. The main character is in no way maidenly, nor does she set a good example in any way for her readers. Also, a witch is in one chapter and is rather spooky. (Not to mention, she really has nothing to do with the story - she was just randomly thrown into one chapter.) Over all, this book had the feel of a secular book with a few "character-building" attributes thrown in to make it "Christian".
However, on the positive side, the friendship between two soldiers (I forgot their names!) is very heartwarming and is an excellent example of loyalty. There is also a lot of adventure and it is definitely a page-turner. (You can decide for yourself if that is a good thing or not!)
I would rate this book 16+.
However, on the positive side, the friendship between two soldiers (I forgot their names!) is very heartwarming and is an excellent example of loyalty. There is also a lot of adventure and it is definitely a page-turner. (You can decide for yourself if that is a good thing or not!)
I would rate this book 16+.
May 21, 2015
I expected something so different from what this was. When I read the title, I expected it to be full of flowery language, fainting women (although I was right there), and droll conversations. What I didn't expect was a full-packed adventure story with a stubborn and wild young lady who cross dresses and becomes best friends with a crazy renegade criminal. This semi-gothic story was written by a single mother who was loved and criticized in the same breath. I'm in love with these characters and the action-packed storyline.
April 29, 2024
This book is a lot of fun!
2013 David read to the family and we all loved it! I will read again on my own.
2024 Read to my children at lunch.
2024 A book more than 100 years old
2013 David read to the family and we all loved it! I will read again on my own.
2024 Read to my children at lunch.
2024 A book more than 100 years old
June 7, 2015
I had a bit of a scare reading this book. When I had first downloaded it onto my Kindle, I had been surprised at how short it was, but I shrugged and thought that then I could finish it quicker and get on to the next book on my list. So I read happily along, drawing closer and closer to 100%...and then it ended. Just ended. And there on the next page was the Project Gutenberg license. At that, I panicked. "Ack!" I thought. "What if the people at Project Gutenberg haven't completed the book? What if they've abandoned the project? I'll be left hanging FOREVER!" A terrifying thought, indeed! It's certainly happened to me before. Once I started reading a book while visiting America and then had to leave before I could finish it, leaving me wondering the rest of the year.
So off I went to try to find the rest of the book. I checked the Amazon reviews of what I had got first, and there, indeed, multiple people were warning, "This is only the first half of the book! You'll have to get the other half elsewhere!" Elsewhere? Elsewhere? Where elsewhere, I should like to know? I found all the free versions I could and checked them; no luck. I checked the plain text and HTML versions at Project Gutenberg, just in case the problem lay with the Kindle version. Nope. My future seemed dark indeed. Despairing, already miserably forming emergency plans of how I could get at the rest of the book by borrowing it from friends in another country in four or so months, in a hopeless whim I clicked on the name of the author at Project Gutenberg to see other works by her, to see if by any chance...Wait! There! Capitola the Madcap! Why, Capitola is the name of the heroine! Perhaps that's it!
And indeed it was. In the front text it calls itself a "sequel" to The Hidden Hand. Sequel! A sequel to a book with no ending, that's what. But at any rate, I was able to finish the book - phew! - and so in the end it was really twice as long as I had first thought. Anyhow! At this rate this review is going to be twice as long as I first thought.
So, The Hidden Hand. I first read it many, many years ago, maybe when I was 10 or so, and could distinctly remember a few scenes, a few paragraphs, even, but little else. And so I was happy when I finally came across it again with the recommendation of a friend. Trying not to spoil too much, it's the story about a girl living on the streets who is discovered by her rich "uncle" and taken back to his estate, where she decides to set herself to capturing a local outlaw, Black Donald. There's also an extensive subplot featuring a poor but noble widow and her son and all the good and bad things that happen to them. And, naturally, as you go, there are various revelations about how everybody's related to each other and who's going to inherit what and why who wants to kill whoever else.
Now, this book was first published in 1859, as I said. It definitely shows. This is such a very Victorian book: the evil villains, the noble heroes, the coincidences, the happily-ever-after perfectly-tied-up ending with the double wedding, the complicated family tree, the triumph of good over evil - it has it all. The fact is that I usually don't go for books that tend towards the...well, clichéd side of the spectrum. I like books that play with old tropes, that take old themes and twist them in new ways, that surprise, that leave things a bit more mushy and complicated - and more realistic - throughout. But sometimes I just want to read a nice, neat book that entertains me and makes me laugh and then ties up everything neatly at the end. Particularly since I just got back from a trip to America that was filled with books that twisted tropes and were wildly unpredictable and left things unresolved, all leaving me with rather wracked nerves. Especially after having read eight books of the Series of Unfortunate Events in a row.
And the fact is that The Hidden Hand does what it does very well. For one, it does play a bit with those 19th-century archetypes - the heroine, for instance, is tomboyish, stubborn and independent, even if she does like to sew and embroider. (See, tough girls can do that sort of thing too. So if Capitola can sew and capture outlaws, I can knit and run Linux servers.) And some - some! - of the heroes have their flaws. But those differences are sort of beside the point - which is that this book is genuinely engrossing, exciting and satisfying despite all the stereotypes. It uses them well. So don't expect some grand, unique, mind-blowingly creative brilliance of a work. Expect a fun, clever, exciting old-fashioned novel. And if you feel like that sort of thing, you would probably enjoy The Hidden Hand. I know I did, even if I laughed at some of the parts I was supposed to be crying at, and even if much of that enjoyment was due to too much of Lemony Snicket all at once.
Alright, now that I've explained that, let's move on. How did I like the characters? Well, some of them were certainly amusing - I loved the scenes of Capitola and Old Hurricane's arguments, for instance. And at least the central heroine and villain are pretty round and interesting as characters. But most of the people in this book are rather flat and don't change much. Take that whole subplot I was mentioning - the noble widow, her noble son, her son's noble love, her son's noble friend, the vindictive villain looking for revenge - all flat, all unchanged by the end. Does that mean they're no fun to read about? Certainly not! Indeed, one of the most memorable parts of this book for me was an incident involving that noble son, his noble friend, and his vindictive arch-enemy. They are definitely entertaining. But you are not going to get hours of mulling and analysis out of them. You are not going to spend whole meals discussing them because they're so brilliantly new. (And yes, I have been known to do that with characters from other books.) Now, the main character, as I said, is more interesting, but (as far as I can see) there isn't much change in her by the end. But she is still fun to read about. The whole book is this way - entertaining, but not that deep. And that's okay.
As for the plot, again, definitely a very Victorian plot - if you don't like coincidences, stay well away! And if it bugs you when good always triumphs over evil - stay away! But again, it's very entertaining, and the book as a whole is surprisingly fast-moving despite the complexity of the plot. Now, I would say that some bits with the widow and her son do get a bit dull (I, for one, don't mind, but I read fast...), but later on the plot thickens and things grow more interesting. Capitola's exploits, on the other hand, are always great fun. Then the end, of course, is very neatly tied up, but even if part of me rolls my eyes and says "This is so overdone!", another part of me wriggles in satisfied delight.
Now, one of my favorite parts of reading older books is learning really obscure words. Jane Eyre, for instance, taught me "confabulate," which basically means "chat." "Confabulate." It is just so long. It amuses me tremendously. Anyhow, this book certainly has its share of weird words. There are a few ones that actually seem that they would be surprisingly useful - one (which I forgot, perhaps with bad implications for its usefulness...) meaning a marriage motivated by money, and another, "contumacious," meaning "stubbornly disobedient to authority," for instance. And then there are some that are just amusing:
'Oh, mother!' exclaimed the boy, while a violent blush overspread and empurpled his face!
Empurpled! Awesome! Next time I blush I want to be empurpled! Okay, fine, I'm kidding. But if you like to read books with weird, delightful words, you'll probably enjoy this one. It's not as great as Jane Eyre for words, but it's still good. Speaking of words, there is the writing style. Well, again, this is a 19th-century novel; the author is no Hemingway. But the she is fairly sparse with descriptions, and the dialog, if sometimes rather wordy, still has plenty of life to it.
I am so glad that I found this book again, not to mention that I managed to procure the second part, since it was a delight to read! The complicated, fast-moving plot, the fun characters, the awesome words, and the wonderfully tied-up ending (a rare sight in contemporary fiction, you must admit) all made for a satisfying read. If you feel like a break from the somewhat grim realism, plain writing, and comparatively simple plots of much modern literature, you might enjoy this novel. And perhaps best of all - it's free! (Just make sure to get both The Hidden Hand and Capitola the Madcap!)
So off I went to try to find the rest of the book. I checked the Amazon reviews of what I had got first, and there, indeed, multiple people were warning, "This is only the first half of the book! You'll have to get the other half elsewhere!" Elsewhere? Elsewhere? Where elsewhere, I should like to know? I found all the free versions I could and checked them; no luck. I checked the plain text and HTML versions at Project Gutenberg, just in case the problem lay with the Kindle version. Nope. My future seemed dark indeed. Despairing, already miserably forming emergency plans of how I could get at the rest of the book by borrowing it from friends in another country in four or so months, in a hopeless whim I clicked on the name of the author at Project Gutenberg to see other works by her, to see if by any chance...Wait! There! Capitola the Madcap! Why, Capitola is the name of the heroine! Perhaps that's it!
And indeed it was. In the front text it calls itself a "sequel" to The Hidden Hand. Sequel! A sequel to a book with no ending, that's what. But at any rate, I was able to finish the book - phew! - and so in the end it was really twice as long as I had first thought. Anyhow! At this rate this review is going to be twice as long as I first thought.
So, The Hidden Hand. I first read it many, many years ago, maybe when I was 10 or so, and could distinctly remember a few scenes, a few paragraphs, even, but little else. And so I was happy when I finally came across it again with the recommendation of a friend. Trying not to spoil too much, it's the story about a girl living on the streets who is discovered by her rich "uncle" and taken back to his estate, where she decides to set herself to capturing a local outlaw, Black Donald. There's also an extensive subplot featuring a poor but noble widow and her son and all the good and bad things that happen to them. And, naturally, as you go, there are various revelations about how everybody's related to each other and who's going to inherit what and why who wants to kill whoever else.
Now, this book was first published in 1859, as I said. It definitely shows. This is such a very Victorian book: the evil villains, the noble heroes, the coincidences, the happily-ever-after perfectly-tied-up ending with the double wedding, the complicated family tree, the triumph of good over evil - it has it all. The fact is that I usually don't go for books that tend towards the...well, clichéd side of the spectrum. I like books that play with old tropes, that take old themes and twist them in new ways, that surprise, that leave things a bit more mushy and complicated - and more realistic - throughout. But sometimes I just want to read a nice, neat book that entertains me and makes me laugh and then ties up everything neatly at the end. Particularly since I just got back from a trip to America that was filled with books that twisted tropes and were wildly unpredictable and left things unresolved, all leaving me with rather wracked nerves. Especially after having read eight books of the Series of Unfortunate Events in a row.
And the fact is that The Hidden Hand does what it does very well. For one, it does play a bit with those 19th-century archetypes - the heroine, for instance, is tomboyish, stubborn and independent, even if she does like to sew and embroider. (See, tough girls can do that sort of thing too. So if Capitola can sew and capture outlaws, I can knit and run Linux servers.) And some - some! - of the heroes have their flaws. But those differences are sort of beside the point - which is that this book is genuinely engrossing, exciting and satisfying despite all the stereotypes. It uses them well. So don't expect some grand, unique, mind-blowingly creative brilliance of a work. Expect a fun, clever, exciting old-fashioned novel. And if you feel like that sort of thing, you would probably enjoy The Hidden Hand. I know I did, even if I laughed at some of the parts I was supposed to be crying at, and even if much of that enjoyment was due to too much of Lemony Snicket all at once.
Alright, now that I've explained that, let's move on. How did I like the characters? Well, some of them were certainly amusing - I loved the scenes of Capitola and Old Hurricane's arguments, for instance. And at least the central heroine and villain are pretty round and interesting as characters. But most of the people in this book are rather flat and don't change much. Take that whole subplot I was mentioning - the noble widow, her noble son, her son's noble love, her son's noble friend, the vindictive villain looking for revenge - all flat, all unchanged by the end. Does that mean they're no fun to read about? Certainly not! Indeed, one of the most memorable parts of this book for me was an incident involving that noble son, his noble friend, and his vindictive arch-enemy. They are definitely entertaining. But you are not going to get hours of mulling and analysis out of them. You are not going to spend whole meals discussing them because they're so brilliantly new. (And yes, I have been known to do that with characters from other books.) Now, the main character, as I said, is more interesting, but (as far as I can see) there isn't much change in her by the end. But she is still fun to read about. The whole book is this way - entertaining, but not that deep. And that's okay.
As for the plot, again, definitely a very Victorian plot - if you don't like coincidences, stay well away! And if it bugs you when good always triumphs over evil - stay away! But again, it's very entertaining, and the book as a whole is surprisingly fast-moving despite the complexity of the plot. Now, I would say that some bits with the widow and her son do get a bit dull (I, for one, don't mind, but I read fast...), but later on the plot thickens and things grow more interesting. Capitola's exploits, on the other hand, are always great fun. Then the end, of course, is very neatly tied up, but even if part of me rolls my eyes and says "This is so overdone!", another part of me wriggles in satisfied delight.
Now, one of my favorite parts of reading older books is learning really obscure words. Jane Eyre, for instance, taught me "confabulate," which basically means "chat." "Confabulate." It is just so long. It amuses me tremendously. Anyhow, this book certainly has its share of weird words. There are a few ones that actually seem that they would be surprisingly useful - one (which I forgot, perhaps with bad implications for its usefulness...) meaning a marriage motivated by money, and another, "contumacious," meaning "stubbornly disobedient to authority," for instance. And then there are some that are just amusing:
'Oh, mother!' exclaimed the boy, while a violent blush overspread and empurpled his face!
Empurpled! Awesome! Next time I blush I want to be empurpled! Okay, fine, I'm kidding. But if you like to read books with weird, delightful words, you'll probably enjoy this one. It's not as great as Jane Eyre for words, but it's still good. Speaking of words, there is the writing style. Well, again, this is a 19th-century novel; the author is no Hemingway. But the she is fairly sparse with descriptions, and the dialog, if sometimes rather wordy, still has plenty of life to it.
I am so glad that I found this book again, not to mention that I managed to procure the second part, since it was a delight to read! The complicated, fast-moving plot, the fun characters, the awesome words, and the wonderfully tied-up ending (a rare sight in contemporary fiction, you must admit) all made for a satisfying read. If you feel like a break from the somewhat grim realism, plain writing, and comparatively simple plots of much modern literature, you might enjoy this novel. And perhaps best of all - it's free! (Just make sure to get both The Hidden Hand and Capitola the Madcap!)
November 8, 2023
what a freaking trip! probably more enjoyable than not, but could have been a good 250 pages shorter easily.
May 17, 2023
Old-fashioned written before 1859
October 7, 2023
Southworth’s novel is 100% worth reading. This book is witty, sarcastic, suspenseful, and extremely enjoyable. The novel features three different plots that slowly converge into one story. Southworth’s transitions between these plots make the novel even more enjoyable as the reader is swooped away from one character to return to another. I would recommend that any lover of novels read this book.
Capitola is a lovable sassy character that the reader can’t help but root for. The various, laughable villains make the book suspenseful and provide Cap the opportunity to be a fairy-tale worthy heroine.
Capitola is a lovable sassy character that the reader can’t help but root for. The various, laughable villains make the book suspenseful and provide Cap the opportunity to be a fairy-tale worthy heroine.
March 12, 2011
Now I'm ticked. This is the third time I've tried to "save" this review, and it's been swallowed up by some glitch in the system. One more try. One.
Capitola is pretty much the woman I want to be. Her adventures, from the New York City street to face-offs with her Uncle Hurricane (well-named) to her tricks to evade would-be kidnappers, not to mention her duel with Black Donald (now my all time favorite duel in literature), she is audacious as all get out and funny as heck.
The rest of the book paled wanly in comparison, even though there was enough action to choke a goat, yes, I do mean that. It seemed to go on forever, and was pre-dict-a-ble. Back in the day it was popular, but look, when you've got Nathaniel Hawthorne for competition...well, I'll leave it at that. I don't need any more Goodread enemies. I'm giving this book only two stars out of sheer disappointment that there was not more of Capitola in it.
There. This better work now.
Capitola is pretty much the woman I want to be. Her adventures, from the New York City street to face-offs with her Uncle Hurricane (well-named) to her tricks to evade would-be kidnappers, not to mention her duel with Black Donald (now my all time favorite duel in literature), she is audacious as all get out and funny as heck.
The rest of the book paled wanly in comparison, even though there was enough action to choke a goat, yes, I do mean that. It seemed to go on forever, and was pre-dict-a-ble. Back in the day it was popular, but look, when you've got Nathaniel Hawthorne for competition...well, I'll leave it at that. I don't need any more Goodread enemies. I'm giving this book only two stars out of sheer disappointment that there was not more of Capitola in it.
There. This better work now.
January 22, 2008
This book is really long, but entertaining enough to keep you engaged the whole way through. I read it for a 19th century women writers class (yawn, I know) and liked it so much compared to the other books we read because the heroine (Capitola) is so funny and brave and I just thought how cool it must have been to escape in her misadventures during a time when women were taught the most important attributes we things like submissiveness to man and god, domesticity, piety, purity, and all that. The Hidden Hand was published (as a series) on or around the same time as Uncle Tom's Cabin and was just as popular but a lot less sentimental and preachy--which was a bold move on Southworth's part since sap and god stories played so well at that time.
I love Capitola's spirit and believe her story (with some updating) would play just as well today as it did back then.
I love Capitola's spirit and believe her story (with some updating) would play just as well today as it did back then.
June 9, 2013
Because I have a compelling need to write this down somewhere, this is what Marah Rocke should have said to "Old Hurricane" when he realized his mistake after twenty years.
ahem
"Really? You want me to live in your house and be your wife again because you've realized you jumped to an untrue conclusion all those years ago? Look, I'd rather continue living the way I've been living--I'd rather starve on the street, to speak frankly--than be your wife. You assumed the worst about me without giving me the opportunity to speak a word. You have taken my life and my joy from me and you have crushed my heart with decades of grief and there is no way you can ever take that back and nothing you can do to make up for it. Meeting you was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Go to hell."
ahem
"Really? You want me to live in your house and be your wife again because you've realized you jumped to an untrue conclusion all those years ago? Look, I'd rather continue living the way I've been living--I'd rather starve on the street, to speak frankly--than be your wife. You assumed the worst about me without giving me the opportunity to speak a word. You have taken my life and my joy from me and you have crushed my heart with decades of grief and there is no way you can ever take that back and nothing you can do to make up for it. Meeting you was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Go to hell."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
This book is everything that a novel should be. I had a terrifying dream about this book after reading one night in which I woke up with my heart beating a million miles a minute. There were times when my stomach was in such knots I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to eat dinner. Several times I gasped aloud at the events unfolding as I was in total disbelief and I even cried as the book was ending and everything was coming together with the characters in the book. Such a treasure of a book with such beauty, heroism, bravery, and redeeming qualities that this will forever be one of my favorite stories.
September 21, 2009
I enjoyed this republished book from the 1800's very much until the last page, when I discovered that it continues in another book, Capitola's Peril, that I don't have! Argggh! Capitola is a great female protagonist--smart, defiant, witty-- refreshingly different from the typical submissive women of that era. The author weaves many threads of mystery throughout--and I wanted to see how they resolved. But alas, the book ends in the middle of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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