Esther

By Henry Adams

Book Overview

Esther is a free-thinking young woman who enjoys her independence. Her strained relationship with her father usually keeps her far from the church, until she is hired to paint a mural for a Christian church in New York. There, the pastor, Stephen, is in awe of Esther's work. He makes a consistent effort to connect with her, memorized by her talent. Though she initially recoils from his attention, Esther starts to fall in love with Stephen after he helps her through a family matter. Growing closer as her father's health declines, Esther and Stephen connect despite their differences. From the start, Esther and Stephen must face conflicts in personality, faith, intellect, and social beliefs. Their relationship is built on rocky ground, threatening Esther's independence, but offering comfort in her time of need. Intrigued by Stephen's faith and moved by her love for him, Esther tries to become religious, even though it conflicts with her reason and threatens her independence as a woman. Though her love for Stephen is strong, Esther struggles to decide if it is more important than her autonomy and if his faith is any match for her beliefs of intellectual reason.

Clashing personalities, sexism, and the battle between faith and reason make a clever and thoughtful setting for this romance, challenging Esther and Stephen's relationship with philosophical, theological, and social debate. Esther, written by Henry Adams, examines common ethical and intellectual differences in society and the effect such contrasts have on both romantic and platonic relationships. Though it was published over one hundred years ago, Esther depicts problems that current readers can relate to, and Adam's wit offers surprising insight and depth.

Now presented with a new and appealing cover design and font, paired with classic, well-developed characters, and a lively setting, John Adam's Esther is easier than ever to enjoy. With a deep, complicated romance and thoughtful representation of the forever relevant debate between reason and religion, Esther is an American classic well deserving of praise and conversation.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1513220365
• ISBN13: 9781513220369
• Release Date: November 2020
• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Length: 138 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Faith and reason clash in this comic masterpiece

A neglected comic masterpiece that deserves to be rediscovered, "Esther" features an inspired premise as its plot: a young, free-thinking socialite falls desperately in love with an Episcopal minister. The result is a free-for-all clash of intellects, a confrontation between faith and reason, and the inevitable battle of the sexes.The marvels of Adams's novel are his remarkably nuanced and fully realized characters. Esther, the free-thinker, wants to share her lover's faith and "is trying to get it by reason"--but doesn't initially understand that a person "can never reason yourself into it." Mr. Hazard, the minister, is confident that he will "succeed in drawing her into the fold, because his lifelong faith, that all human energies belonged to the church, was on trial, and, if it broke down in a test so supreme as that of marriage, the blow would go far to prostrate him forever." Esther's principles of independence and self-education collide with Hazard's desire to steer her into submission as his wife and fellow believer.But my favorite character is relegated to a supporting role: Catherine, a recent transplant from the frontiers of Colorado, befriends Esther and dazzles New York society with her innocence, naivete, and sincerity. It's never really quite clear, however, whether her simplicity is the genuine article or just a show mocking the pretensions of her admirers. As one of the intellectuals who lightheartedly teases her wonders, there was "a little doubt whether she was making fun of him or he of her, and she never left him in perfect security on this point."The novel sparkles with banter and quarrels, jokes and ripostes, but any attempt to reproduce the humor in a short review would fall flat: Adams's witticisms are dependent upon context and character. Still, I caught myself laughing out loud often at the book's cleverness and hilarity.