Part historical fact and part fiction, I found A Clearing in
the Wild an interesting book that is based on the move of a religious communal
group led by Wilhelm Keil from Bethel, Missouri to Washington in the 1850’s. A
bit of a history buff myself, I did a little research on this group and found
they were similar in some aspects to a group who founded the Amana Colonies in
Iowa. It seems German communal groups were not uncommon during this time in our
history.
Emma is an outspoken young woman who finds it difficult to
assume the role assigned to her, that of a demure, quiet woman who does not speak
out and follows the dictates of her father, husband or leader. When a group of
men is selected to scout out new territory in Washington, she begins a campaign
to go along. Newly married, Emma and Christian have spent more time separate
than together due to Wilhelm’s various jobs for Christian. She argues that she
can cook for the men, take care of them when they are sick, do their laundry
and be with her husband so they may be a family. The leader reluctantly agrees
and allows her to travel with them. A Clearing in the Wild is the story of that
journey, the hardships and triumphs of finding choice land that they can build on
and begin a new colony. Jane Kirkpatrick has done an excellent job of allowing
us to take this journey with the scouts and experience the triumphs and
heartaches they faced. Even when Wilhelm declared the land they chose as undesirable,
Emma convinces Christian that God did not make a mistake and there is a future
for them in the land that will allow them to fulfill the godly principles their
group held sacred.
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