What do you think?
Eva and Henry: A Cape Cod Marriage
It's 1886, and the Cape Cod village of South Wellfleet is stirring back to life after a long, cold winter. Strong-willed Eva Paine has always admired her dashing neighbor, Captain Henry Smith, and as fruit trees blossom, she abandons thoughts of a university education and arranges her own marriage. Eva's wedding day is bittersweet-she bids her dear parents and brother good-bye and moves down the lane to Henry's family homestead. There she eagerly enters the realm of marital relations by night, and by day she practices the art of housekeeping under the watchful eyes of her new mother-in-law. Eva accepts the joys and disappointments of her marriage with a unique combination of faith, good humor and forgiveness. She is soon in charge of all household affairs while Henry is out to sea, but is then expected to slip back into submission upon his every return. Motherhood seems elusive, even though Eva strongly desires to bear a child. Motivated by the alternating forces of passion and loneliness, Eva pushes towards the modern machine age as Henry insists upon continuing in a dangerous traditional profession. Their fiery relationship swings like a wind-blown weathervane between bliss and crushing pain. Eva and Henry, A Cape Cod Marriage transports the reader back in time to the Cape Cod of the late nineteenth century-a period of great social and economic upheaval. The novel will draw you firmly into the challenging lives of real people, and their story will remain with you long after you've finished reading.
290 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 24, 2014
Escaping from the world of research for my own historical fiction often finds me reading books set in modern day as a change of pace -- I couldn't resist Eva & Henry, however, and thoroughly enjoyed dropping back into 19th century Cape Cod. Accurate and absorbing, this novel got me joyfully time-traveling once again.
July 8, 2026
Eva and Henry is a trip to Cape Cod in a bygone era. You can not help but feel the sand between your toes, the sea breeze in the air, and the sails being hoisted as you read. The book takes you on a journey through a marriage, but also a period of time. The era and the characters are wonderfully depicted and you can't help but fall in love with them and their struggles as they make the best of what life offers them. A wonderful read. Can't wait to read more from this author.
December 20, 2018
Wonderful historical novel based on Cape Cod
As a resident of Cape Cod I felt as if I was there beside Eva throughout the story. The author is well versed and accurate with details. I recommend this novel for any reader who enjoys history.
As a resident of Cape Cod I felt as if I was there beside Eva throughout the story. The author is well versed and accurate with details. I recommend this novel for any reader who enjoys history.
May 7, 2021
This brought life on Cape Cod in the late 1800s to life in a simple and lovely way. I enjoyed it very much. The author wrote the story based on real people--her ancestors! Very neat.
Read
September 7, 2022Great historical fiction - if you know the Cape at all, you will enjoy reading this.
October 29, 2010
It’s surprising to see this is Irene Paine’s first book, as it’s so well plotted and detailed. It drew me in easily and kept me happily reading and wanting more throughout. It’s historical fiction, but more tied in to the author’s own life than usual, as the main character Eva is based on the author’s own great grandaunt. Perhaps that is why it feels so real and fresh.
Most of the book’s action takes place on Cape Cod, in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as 19th century ends and the 20th begins. It chronicles the life of Eva, an intelligent and bit subversive young woman from late teen years through mature womanhood. The book is well researched and informative in many ways but never feels stuffy. I learned with interest detail I hadn’t known about the decline of the wooden ship fishing trade, the women’s suffrage movement, village life on Cape Cod at the time, and the railway. I appreciated also the deft portrayals of the characters’ emotional lives, and the accompanying scenes of frustration, humor, love, and tragedy. A good read.
Most of the book’s action takes place on Cape Cod, in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as 19th century ends and the 20th begins. It chronicles the life of Eva, an intelligent and bit subversive young woman from late teen years through mature womanhood. The book is well researched and informative in many ways but never feels stuffy. I learned with interest detail I hadn’t known about the decline of the wooden ship fishing trade, the women’s suffrage movement, village life on Cape Cod at the time, and the railway. I appreciated also the deft portrayals of the characters’ emotional lives, and the accompanying scenes of frustration, humor, love, and tragedy. A good read.
August 13, 2020
See www.EvaAndHenry.com for photos and details.
This Historical fiction story begins and ends on the same day: April 6, 1938.
Eva is looking back at her life as a young bride when at 21 years old she married Henry Smith on May 14, 1886 in South Wellfleet MA.
This means she was born circa 1865 probably around the end of our Civil War.
The worst storm of the century hit on April 4, 1889 and Eva‘s husband Henry and some of his crew were lost at sea.
Reading is food for the brain but writing is the product of the thoughts I have entertained throughout the day.” P 103
“ I chose teal green, royal blue and purple as the three main colors and find that I eagerly finish my chores every day so I can go into the cool parlor and work on the quilt.” P 109
Home for Little Wanderers p 177 = an orphanage
This Historical fiction story begins and ends on the same day: April 6, 1938.
Eva is looking back at her life as a young bride when at 21 years old she married Henry Smith on May 14, 1886 in South Wellfleet MA.
This means she was born circa 1865 probably around the end of our Civil War.
The worst storm of the century hit on April 4, 1889 and Eva‘s husband Henry and some of his crew were lost at sea.
Reading is food for the brain but writing is the product of the thoughts I have entertained throughout the day.” P 103
“ I chose teal green, royal blue and purple as the three main colors and find that I eagerly finish my chores every day so I can go into the cool parlor and work on the quilt.” P 109
Home for Little Wanderers p 177 = an orphanage
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2013
This is a super book which portrays the true life of the people of South Wellfleet, MA in the mid-late 1800s.
Having grown up in nearby Wellfleet during the summers, since 1944, I was impressed with the historical research by the author, and reminded of the landmarks, many of which remain today. The local history is fascinating.
Three cheers for Irene Paine for capturing this valuable information.
Having grown up in nearby Wellfleet during the summers, since 1944, I was impressed with the historical research by the author, and reminded of the landmarks, many of which remain today. The local history is fascinating.
Three cheers for Irene Paine for capturing this valuable information.
September 9, 2012
A very sweet love story based on real life historical people from Wellfleet in the 19th Century. It is well written and captures your emotions. A short read. There is an associated website where you can view actual photos of the characters and historical places in Wellfleet. I am inspired to take a ride up there to see them.
May 24, 2015
Eva and Henry is an engrossing journey back in time and I really enjoyed it. Eva Paine Smith is an every woman living in the late 1800's but struggling with the same issues a modern day woman must face. It actually surprised me how much I could relate to Eva's life and I loved the descriptive nature of life in Wellfleet, MA over 100 years ago. Definitely a fun read!
March 22, 2012
*** and 1/2 actually. Cape Cod historical fiction. This is a gentle piece of Wellfeet history, as imagined by the author about her seafaring ancestors and covering just a few years in the late 1800s. A most enjoyable read.
July 22, 2012
The characters were very real, and since I know the area of South Wellfleet very well and I also am an ancestor of the nonfictional characters Lily and Charles Cole, it was easily relatable and almost like a dosage of family history.
March 11, 2011
Period piece set on Cape Cod.
March 10, 2013
Historical fiction with good local color.
August 16, 2013
What a wonderful book! Very good story.
August 21, 2013
Felt like I actually went back in time...
February 25, 2016
Really enjoyed this book....love the writing style!
May 22, 2012
Local color, strong heronine, little more.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews