The Rebel’s Wife
The Rebel’s Wife
Seeking Justice in Canada’s Past
Gerald Richardson Brown
On August 11, 1838, Maria Wait sits horrified as the judge reads her husband’s sentence: execution by hanging. In the aftermath of a failed rebel uprising in Upper Canada, Benjamin Wait is one of several activists facing death for their political ideals. In the overheated courtroom, Maria resolves to save her husband’s life so that their child can know a father and she can be reunited with her beloved.
Maria’s quest for justice takes her from the halls of power in the young colony of Canada to a harrowing voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and finally to London, England, where she petitions Queen Victoria for her husband’s freedom. By the time Maria returns to Canada, her family and neighbours see Benjamin as a lost cause. Frustrated but undaunted, Maria puts her faith in God and continues to work relentlessly for her husband’s freedom.
Based on a true story, The Rebel’s Wife brings to life the devotion and courage of a remarkable woman in Canadian history.
Download book excerpt: The Rebel’s Wife — Excerpt
Review
“Amidst detailing her struggles, the author evokes the rich seasonal imagery, landscapes and daily life of the Niagara River region…. This is a stirring book about early Canada with more than a few echoes for the future.”
— Trevor Carolan
Full review: The Rebel’s Wife, BCBookLook
About the Author
Born in 1930, Gerald Richardson Brown grew up in a small village, an experience that has never left him. He was fortunate to be able to go to university and eventually to teach civil engineering at the University of British Columbia for twenty-five years.
On retirement, Professor Brown began writing historical fiction. He published a trilogy of novels linked by the contents of a sea chest brought to North America by early European settlers. The Road to Ganneious (2012), The Villager (2018) and North to Crying Rock (2020) were published by Conundrum Press.
The Rebel’s Wife is Professor Brown’s fourth book. He lives in Vancouver with his wife, Janet.
