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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
In Vivia, The Legend of Vivia Thomas: A Novelette in Poems, Linda Neal Reising brings to life American folklore legend Vivia Thomas' extraordinary tale. Born into an affluent Boston family, Vivia grew up close to her wet nurse, an Irishwoman named Aideen, who also helped raise Vivia who found herself alone when her three sisters left for school. When she was young, a governess supervised Vivia's education, but after turning fourteen, Vivia went to Miss Porter's Finishing School. After attending several social seasons, Vivia finally found a suitable match in David McWilliams, an Army man. But her life turned upside down on her wedding day when William unexpectedly left her to rejoin the Army. Braving an arduous journey, including storms and an attack by a stranger, Vivia followed David's trail to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. However, things didn't go according to plan.
A tragic tale of love, loss, and grief, Vivia offers a captivating insight into the life of a legendary woman who stamped her name in the annals of Oklahoma folklore. Linda Neal Reising's poetic narrative is mesmerizing, painting a rich portrait of Vivia's life. While reading the poems, you find yourself transported back in time to 19th-century America, with debutante seasons and the Civil War happening side by side, which perfectly captures the juxtaposition of the era. Reising's lyrical storytelling not only brings the brilliance and ingenuity of Vivia to the pages but also highlights the role of women during that era, when options were limited regardless of abilities, and men made the choices for women. I thoroughly enjoyed Vivia's story and highly recommend it to poetry readers and historical fiction lovers alike.
