Malaeska, The Indian Wife of the White Hunter

by Ann S. Stephens

When Erastus Beadle began publishing inexpensive, short, paperback novels in the nineteenth century, he chose Stepens' work, which originally appeared in Ladies Companion Magazine in 1839, as the first selection for Beadle's Dime Novels. Today, Malaeska provides insight into contemporary perspectives on race and culture.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Native American, Fiction

118 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Ann Sophia Stephens (March 10, 1810 – August 20, 1886) was an American novelist and magazine editor. She was the author of dime novels and is credited as the progenitor of that genre.
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Reviews

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the original, 1860 edition, of this, what is recognized as the first dime novel at the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia. The book is of it's time with respect to biases, prejudices, etc. and in terms of it's florid language.

[Stuart Whitmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I forced myself to read this story because it was the original "dime novel." The purple prose made it difficult to get through, and social ideas that were commonly acceptable back in 1860 make for rather terrible, if moderately laughable, reading now, such as referring to Native Americans as "savages" and in one sentence confirming that a man is terribly prejudiced and referring to him as "a just man." The whole thing ends up sounding like a warning against interracial marriage which will cause constant tragedy that even God can't prevent. There was also a glaring continuity error near the end. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is that it is a useful cultural reference. I would never recommend this to someone just wanting an enjoyable read, I would only recommend it for its historical relevance.

[David Welch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book three stars but it's honestly more like 2.5. Somewhat famous for being the first dime novel, and being a huge hit in the 1860s, the role it plays in the evolution of American literature is big, even if the story itself is somewhat less impressive. First off, dime novels are normally associated with action and adventure, but this is not one of those. It's a drama/tragedy, filled with purple prose and depressing as anything the Greeks every wrote. Second, while I'm used to old attitudes cropping up in old books, this story really has a lot of them. The theme seems to be that marrying outside of your group will only bring death and despair. The titular character who fell in love with a colonist seems to know nothing but heartache, and their son literally feels doomed when he learns of his heritage. I don't like judging people for being the products of their time, which this author clearly was, but I got a feeling a lot of modern readers would be a bit shocked by the 'lesson' this book seeks to portray.

Despite that there are some redeeming features. The characters are better developed then most I've seen in dime novels, with the main heroine being rounded out as a time when many First Nations characters were reduced to steretypes. And the author clearly understands how a classical tragedy works, as many of the characters fall victim to one specific flaw that undoes all that's good around them. The writer clearly was no amateur in regards to strcuture and story. The language is also of a high level, despite the fact that this was conisdered mere 'popular' entertainment at the time of it's publishing. But despite this, it can't really be said to rise tot he level of a classic, more a historical curiosity.

[Josh Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit dated

[Aarrya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eloquently written, terribly prejudiced and racist, and a clear insight into this time period.
A sad story about Malaeska, an indigenous woman, who falls in love and marries with a white man, has a child, is widowed when her father (the chief) kills her husband and dies alongside him, and witnesses his death and dying words. It then goes through the trials she faces as she tries to give a letter from her deceased husband to her prejudiced in-laws, as per his dying wish. All while caring for a small infant!
The story goes through Malaeska’s widowhood all the way through the adulthood of her son. It has a heartbreaking ending.
It is strange because many characters are prejudiced and a few are accepting of other races, which makes me think the author wasn’t prejudiced but wrote the other characters from the perspectives of those around her.
It is annoyingly racist and rude at times and wise before it’s time in other places.
Although some characters understand that race doesn’t determine someone’s value and how worthy they are of respect, others refer to First Peoples in demeaning terms (even when I think the author is trying to convey a kind statement from a character) like “savages”, and dehumanizes them to an animalistic level.
It confuses me on what it wants me take away from this book because there is an overwhelming majority of racist characters, while there is an indigenous character portrayed in a peaceful, admirable light, which may mean the author wants the reader to root for and understand Malaeska’s plight.
It also has a white savior type of complex and kind of rude dismissal of the indigenous people’s religion and beliefs.
I think the author lived in a time where this was acceptable but it most definitely is not today. I’m not positive which side of the argument of basic human rights and dignity the author stands, but it would have been very controversial to empathize with indigenous peoples, so maybe this was a hidden message under layers of racism and prejudice.

[Rebecca Murdock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

A wonderful story that kept me captivated from beginning to end. Thank you Ann S Stephens for this amazing book.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be clear: I read this in hopes to understand 19th century bigotry and some about the Catskill region. Dated ethics throughout, but a well-produced return to publication by Dodo Press.

[Bob Naylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was one of the first "dime novels" published. In 1860 the book sold for 10 cents. A good, but somewhat sad story about natives and settlers in New York.

Also on Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46160

[Lulu]

1839 magazine version

1860 dime novel in the anthology