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Lover's Trilogy #1
The Dawning of the Day
Philippa Marshall, a young war widow, travelled to a beautiful but remote island off the Maine coast to teach school. She was caught up in the smoldering conflicts of the island families.
Though the fisherman of Bennett’s Island used modern power boats, they followed the sea as their forebears had- and lived by a tradition hard for an outsider to grasp. Philippa Marshall gallantly undertook this island venture to provide a livelihood for herself and her young son but she also hoped that here she might find friendship and affection to fill her empty heart.
Though the fisherman of Bennett’s Island used modern power boats, they followed the sea as their forebears had- and lived by a tradition hard for an outsider to grasp. Philippa Marshall gallantly undertook this island venture to provide a livelihood for herself and her young son but she also hoped that here she might find friendship and affection to fill her empty heart.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1954
8 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Ogilvie
75 books53 followersElisabeth Ogilvie’s striking evocation of the atmosphere of the Maine seacoast that is the background of The Seasons Hereafter is no accident, for she lived in just such an area for many years, and her love for its people and their way of life has influenced all her novels.
Her activities on Gay’s Island, where she spent most of the year, included writing, gardening, and “trying not to suspect that a bear is at the door, a moose lurking in among the alders, or a horned owl hovering overhead about to bear away the cat.”
She contributed a considerable amount of writing of magazine fiction and children’s books, and is the author of several novels, including There May Be Heaven, The Witch Door, Rowan Head, The Dawning of the Day, Storm Tide, and one book of nonfiction, My World Is an Island.
Her activities on Gay’s Island, where she spent most of the year, included writing, gardening, and “trying not to suspect that a bear is at the door, a moose lurking in among the alders, or a horned owl hovering overhead about to bear away the cat.”
She contributed a considerable amount of writing of magazine fiction and children’s books, and is the author of several novels, including There May Be Heaven, The Witch Door, Rowan Head, The Dawning of the Day, Storm Tide, and one book of nonfiction, My World Is an Island.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 9, 2019
4.5 stars
The Dawning of the Day was a superbly readable and beautifully written story of a 30-year-old widow who accepted a teacher’s position on Bennett’s Island off the coast of Maine. Eight years had passed since she lost her loving husband at the end of WWII. Left with a son, she had been making do when she was alerted to this vacant post. It meant having her child live, temporarily, with her sister on the mainland while she moved in with one of the island’s families.
I loved Ms. Ogilvie’s character-rich and thoughtful storytelling. Her marvelous descriptions of island life during this era were all to real. There was plenty of personal conflict: some good and some where I was shaking my head. I felt a big difference between reading stories of this era written by contemporary authors and the author’s lyrical authenticity of Philippa’s heart and soul on Bennett’s Island.
I can’t imagine anyone who relishes historical fiction with a vintage romance who won’t love this narrative. The Dawning of the Day was rich, gritty, down-to-earth and lifelike. Though I didn’t like everyone all the time, the story’s sense of place and Ms. Ogilvie’s world-building entranced me. Get ready to set aside some quiet time with your favorite chair and a cuppa your favorite drink before you start the prelude.
*I received the story from our public library but it is available at Open Library for $0. I can’t let it slip by but there was a major editorial blunder with the edition I read. After page 120, the story reverts to page 89! It goes on like this until page 120 -again- and then smoothly continues on. I hope the e-format catches this, it might have just been the 1954 hardcover I read.*
The Dawning of the Day was a superbly readable and beautifully written story of a 30-year-old widow who accepted a teacher’s position on Bennett’s Island off the coast of Maine. Eight years had passed since she lost her loving husband at the end of WWII. Left with a son, she had been making do when she was alerted to this vacant post. It meant having her child live, temporarily, with her sister on the mainland while she moved in with one of the island’s families.
I loved Ms. Ogilvie’s character-rich and thoughtful storytelling. Her marvelous descriptions of island life during this era were all to real. There was plenty of personal conflict: some good and some where I was shaking my head. I felt a big difference between reading stories of this era written by contemporary authors and the author’s lyrical authenticity of Philippa’s heart and soul on Bennett’s Island.
I can’t imagine anyone who relishes historical fiction with a vintage romance who won’t love this narrative. The Dawning of the Day was rich, gritty, down-to-earth and lifelike. Though I didn’t like everyone all the time, the story’s sense of place and Ms. Ogilvie’s world-building entranced me. Get ready to set aside some quiet time with your favorite chair and a cuppa your favorite drink before you start the prelude.
*I received the story from our public library but it is available at Open Library for $0. I can’t let it slip by but there was a major editorial blunder with the edition I read. After page 120, the story reverts to page 89! It goes on like this until page 120 -again- and then smoothly continues on. I hope the e-format catches this, it might have just been the 1954 hardcover I read.*
March 14, 2013
The Dawning of the Day by Elizabeth Ogilvie
This book in the trilogy follows Phillipa and her self discovery of herself when she comes to the island to be the teacher and falls in love.
Love hearing how the islanders came to the mainland and interviewed a woman who will become the island teacher. The one room schoolhouse and she has a son she hopes will find some friends his own age.
The trip over to the island reminds me of many trips we took to our local island every weekend on a gusty wind and large whitecaps.
Love hearing how the islanders survive and just the small details of how they cook their fish, etc.
Phillipa is very dedicated to teaching the children of the island.
Love the island politics I was just witness to that when I spent a few days on our local offshore island. I know the other side but those discussing the issue did not and there's no way you open your mouth to educate them.
Love hearing about the lobster wars and how they are overcome.
So terrifying to listen to the book when they describe a lost ship with islanders on it during a n'easter and days later the CG haven't been able to find the boat. Recall this happening to my neighbor's brothers ship one year, so heart retching.
This book in the trilogy follows Phillipa and her self discovery of herself when she comes to the island to be the teacher and falls in love.
Love hearing how the islanders came to the mainland and interviewed a woman who will become the island teacher. The one room schoolhouse and she has a son she hopes will find some friends his own age.
The trip over to the island reminds me of many trips we took to our local island every weekend on a gusty wind and large whitecaps.
Love hearing how the islanders survive and just the small details of how they cook their fish, etc.
Phillipa is very dedicated to teaching the children of the island.
Love the island politics I was just witness to that when I spent a few days on our local offshore island. I know the other side but those discussing the issue did not and there's no way you open your mouth to educate them.
Love hearing about the lobster wars and how they are overcome.
So terrifying to listen to the book when they describe a lost ship with islanders on it during a n'easter and days later the CG haven't been able to find the boat. Recall this happening to my neighbor's brothers ship one year, so heart retching.
July 11, 2013
I really enjoy the books by Elisabeth Ogilvie. This book takes place maybe in the 50's on an island off the Maine coast. The men are lobstermen. The island does not have all of our modern conveniences and technology. The story is about the families that live and work on the island and the good things and the bad things that can happen with such a small, close community.
October 30, 2019
This was a very interesting story. I like her descriptions of life in a small community on an island. What I found so fascinating is that the issues of the days when she wrote this book ('50's ?) are still the same issues that plague us today. Intolerance, hate, and also love, strong convictions to do the right thing in the face of adversity. To have the courage to live by one's convictions beliefs in the face of those in power who are prejudiced and small minded. I picked this book up in Maine on one of our visits and am ever so glad I finally read it.
March 11, 2017
Ms. Ogilvie writes beautifully! Her word choices and textures render life on the island very real and rich to the reader. I am dazzled. Her plot grabs me in and causes me to continue reading when I should not. I JUST DISCOVERED THAT SHE HAS MORE THAN ONE BOOK!!!! How delightful to learn that a book that I have long enjoyed has friends!!
March 16, 2023
Such wonderful, evocative writing! A very compelling story, I found myself not wanting to put it down.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
November 18, 2024
I loved the scene setting and all of the imagery. Characters became confusing.
Read
March 15, 2016A story you can't put down and don't want to end
Another Elisabeth Oglivie portrait of personal and community life on a Maine island, the interaction of personalities, geography and circumstance poignantly made real in a consuming read.
Another Elisabeth Oglivie portrait of personal and community life on a Maine island, the interaction of personalities, geography and circumstance poignantly made real in a consuming read.
September 29, 2008
Just when I thought the Tide Trilogy was complete, I learned about another trilogy that follows the next generation of the Bennetts!
July 25, 2009
love all the Bennett's Island books
August 1, 2022
Bennett’s Island novels, Lovers Trilogy, BK 1
Widowed Philippa Marshall has been hired to be the teacher on Bennett’s Island, 25 miles off the mainland of mid-coast Maine, three miles out beyond Matinicus Rock Light. When three of her dozen children don’t show up for school, Joanna plans to figure out why, and discovers there are strongly divided feelings on the island about the “strange” Webster children. There are other young people that different people complain about. She comes quickly to feel other barely contained animosities between Campion families with whom she is boarded and the Bennett families whose forefathers settled the island. Those problems effect her because they effect the children in her classroom. Young Charles’s Bennett, 27, and his uncle Steven Bennett both have their eye on the attractive independent teacher.
Prejudices and jealousies get out of hand, escalating into lobster wars with terrible consequences.
Beautifully and sensitively written.
Now to find the next books.
Widowed Philippa Marshall has been hired to be the teacher on Bennett’s Island, 25 miles off the mainland of mid-coast Maine, three miles out beyond Matinicus Rock Light. When three of her dozen children don’t show up for school, Joanna plans to figure out why, and discovers there are strongly divided feelings on the island about the “strange” Webster children. There are other young people that different people complain about. She comes quickly to feel other barely contained animosities between Campion families with whom she is boarded and the Bennett families whose forefathers settled the island. Those problems effect her because they effect the children in her classroom. Young Charles’s Bennett, 27, and his uncle Steven Bennett both have their eye on the attractive independent teacher.
Prejudices and jealousies get out of hand, escalating into lobster wars with terrible consequences.
Beautifully and sensitively written.
Now to find the next books.
Read
October 25, 2020I’m reading the Bennett’s Island books sequentially within a time frame that I hope will allow me to think about each book in relation to the others. It makes them difficult to rate and review independently. In The Dawning of the Day, Ogilvie is learning how to write about Bennett’s Island without the benefit of Joanna Sorensen as the world’s most lovably flawed protagonist. There’s a lot to like and few stumbles with Philippa Marshall’s arrival on the island. A couple weaker subplots suggest that Ogilvie was writing with more awareness of market trends than when she kicked off the Tide trilogy. Much greater adherence to the beats of genre romance, with gunmetal seas and wild cranberries to remind us that the real love affair is with the place.
August 12, 2023
If you've spent any time in Maine you know of Elisabeth Ogilvie! SO enjoyed going back to Bennett's Island with this 1st in the 2nd trilogy with widowed Philippa Marshall as the new school teacher of the one room schoolhouse in the early 1950's. Love, loyalties, and lobster fishing abound.
December 15, 2017
Fluid writing, sudden and open finale.
August 8, 2022
When in Maine read Maine authors. Written in 1954. Have read other books by the author. Fun read with all the Maine nuance - lobstering, island life, family, love, ...
August 1, 2023
Beautiful story and beautifully written!
August 6, 2024
Re-read of an old book, but well worth the time.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews