Celia Garth By Gwen Bristow: Summary

Gwen Bristow makes the reader think about the message she’s really trying to get across in her book, Celia Garth. One of Gwen Bristows greatest attributes as a writer is her ability to connect the content of the text very closely to what actually happened in the time period. Gwen incorporates important characters of the Revolutionary Period into the text and gives them certain roles to develop their character. The author also uses a minor amount of battles from the Revolutionary War to help keep the story flowing. Another thing the author is very strong at is showing the war through Celia’s eyes, which shows the consequences of war from the standpoint of a common townsfolk. Gwen Bristow is able to captivate her readers with her ability to relate the text to what happened in the Revolutionary time period.

The importance of the Revolutionary War is often underrated compared to other wars America has fought in. The truth is, without the bravery of certain men, like Francis Marion, America could still be under control of the British. Frances Marion was a humble and wise Captain, stating “Promises you make to yourself are often like the Japanese

plum tree- they bear no fruit”. Marion played an important character in Celia Garth, being the head of the force Luke was in against Sir Henry Clinton's regiment. Marion’s regiment usually consisted of a small amount of troops, which made a huge difference in the war. Marion often made all the right moves to avoid being captured, despite the various attempts of capture by the British under the command of Banastre Tarleton. Many of Marion’s men were not paid, had to supply themselves with their firearms and horses, and were hardly fed. After Luke had fought alongside Francis Marion, he seemed to become more cultivated and mature. Marion and his cadre would typically besiege small groups of British soldiers, usually Tarleton’s forces, using guerrilla warfare tactics. Because of this, Marion attained the title of “Swamp Fox” and is considered one of the fathers of guerrilla warfare.

Francis Marion was involved in some major onslaughts by the British, although his group of men was not the biggest on the battlefield. The first major battle covered in the book is known as the First Siege of Charleston. This happened when Celia said that she heard gunfire from across the Ashley River. The next British were pushed back onto an island, and the Rebels won the fight. The next onslaught occurs when the British begin to surround the town with their ships, and shortly after began to fire shells. Celia says “They saw it, and then heard it. Above the island and the men-of-war were pillars of smoke, sparkling with the exploding shells” (Bristow 147). Celia is at Vivans when this occurs, and is staying there with Godfrey, Elise, and Marietta. In this battle, the British pull off a decisive victory, and thus Charleston was under control of the British. In Celia Garth, the book ends with General Cornwallis surrendering to Washington at Yorktown. Historically, there are many more battles fought, but most of these battles were not specifically mentioned.

The consequences of war are a real issue in today’s society, and it was a problem in Celia Garth as well.

We see most of the war through Celia’s eyes, so consequently we also see the consequences through her eyes as well. A prime example of this is when Celia visits Bellwood to see Jimmy. As Celia arrives in Bellwood she discovers that “Before her lay Bellwood. And all over Bellwood was the sight and silence and smell of death.” (Bristow 208). In this, Tarleton raids Bellwood, kills Jimmy and much of the livestock, and burned down the grand house where Jimmy and a few others were staying. Another example of a consequence of war is when Roy takes over Sea Garden for a short while. If Charleston was never invaded and captured by the British, Roy and his prosperous Tory family would not have been able to take over Sea

Garden.

The reader can really see what Gwen Bristow was trying to show us. The author was trying to show us how she can make a compelling fictional tale with many non-fiction elements. The author used men, like Francis Marion, to show how a great leader like himself can influence and develop characters. Gwen also used various battles of the time period to help show a timeline of events that happened in the text. Finally, the author used a common theme in war, the consequences of war, to help relate the book to prevalent themes in today’s society. Overall, Gwen Bristow’s tale of Celia Garth is an exquisite novel, having many battles and characters that are in America’s history, and many timeless themes that are still seen in today’s civilization.