March by Geraldine Brooks: A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novel with a Hidden Maze
March by Geraldine Brooks: A Novel Inspired by Little Women
If you are a fan of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women, you might be curious about the fate of the absent father, Mr. March, who leaves his family to serve as a chaplain in the Civil War. In March, Geraldine Brooks imagines his life and experiences during the war, and how they affect his marriage and beliefs. In this article, you will learn more about what March is about, how to download it as an epub file, how to solve the maze puzzle in it, and why you should read it.
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What is March about?
March is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Mr. March, the father of the four sisters in Little Women. It alternates between his perspective and that of his wife, Marmee, who stays at home with their daughters. The novel explores the themes of love, war, slavery, religion, and family.
The plot of March
The novel begins with Mr. March leaving his home in Concord, Massachusetts, to join the Union army as a chaplain. He hopes to make a difference in the fight against slavery and injustice. However, he soon faces the horrors and hardships of war, witnessing death, disease, violence, and cruelty on both sides. He also meets Grace Clement, a freed slave who works as a teacher at a plantation where he is stationed. He develops a friendship and attraction with her, which complicates his feelings for his wife.
Meanwhile, Marmee struggles to cope with her husband's absence and the challenges of raising four daughters during wartime. She also learns more about her husband's past, which reveals some secrets and surprises that test their relationship. She decides to travel to Washington D.C. to visit him after he falls ill from a near-fatal wound.
The novel ends with Mr. March recovering from his injury and reuniting with his family. He has to face the consequences of his actions and choices during the war, and find a way to reconnect with his wife and daughters who have no idea of what he has been through.
The historical context of March
March is set during the American Civil War (1861-1865), which was fought between the northern states (the Union) and the southern states (the Confederacy) over the issues of slavery and states' rights. It was one of the deadliest wars in American history, resulting in more than 600,000 casualties.
The novel depicts some of the historical events and figures that shaped the war, such as the Battle of Ball's Bluff, the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Clara Barton. It also portrays the conditions and challenges of the soldiers and civilians during the war, such as hunger, disease, racism, violence, and trauma.
The novel also reflects the social and cultural changes that occurred during the war, such as the rise of feminism, abolitionism, transcendentalism, and education. It shows how the war affected the roles and rights of women, African Americans, and other marginalized groups in society.
The literary influences of March
March is inspired by Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, which was published in two parts in 1868 and 1869. It is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they grow up during and after the Civil War. It is considered one of the most beloved and influential novels in American literature, especially for young girls and women.
Geraldine Brooks, the author of March, said that she was fascinated by the character of Mr. March, who is mostly absent in Little Women, and wanted to explore his story and personality. She said that she based his character on Alcott's father, Bronson Alcott, who was a prominent educator, philosopher, and reformer in the 19th century. He was also a friend and colleague of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and other famous writers and thinkers of the time.
Besides Little Women, Brooks also drew inspiration from other literary works that deal with the Civil War, such as Walt Whitman's poems, Herman Melville's stories, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, and Frederick Douglass's memoirs. She also researched extensively on the history and culture of the period, using primary sources such as letters, diaries, newspapers, and photographs.
How to download March as an epub file?
If you want to read March on your electronic device, such as a tablet, smartphone, or e-reader, you might want to download it as an epub file. An epub file is a type of ebook format that allows you to adjust the text size, font, layout, and other features to suit your preferences and device specifications. It also enables you to bookmark pages, highlight passages, add notes, and access dictionaries and other tools.
What is an epub file?
An epub file is a file extension that stands for electronic publication. It is a standard ebook format that is supported by most devices and platforms, such as Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo, Nook, Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre, and others. It is also compatible with various operating systems, such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, and others.
An epub file consists of three components: a container file that holds the metadata and other information about the ebook; a content file that contains the text, images, audio, video, and other elements of the ebook; and a style file that defines the appearance and layout of the ebook. These components are encoded in XML and HTML languages.
The benefits of reading ebooks
Reading ebooks has many advantages over reading printed books. Some of them are:
Ebooks are cheaper than printed books. You can save money by buying ebooks online or downloading them for free from various sources.
Ebooks are more convenient than printed books. You can carry thousands of ebooks in one device without adding weight or bulk to your bag. You can also access them anytime and anywhere with an internet connection.
Ebooks are more eco-friendly than printed books. You can reduce paper consumption and waste by reading ebooks instead of printed books. You can also avoid shipping costs and emissions by downloading ebooks online.
Ebooks are more interactive than printed books. You can enhance your reading experience by using features such as hyperlinks, multimedia, annotations, dictionaries, translations, quizzes, games, and others.
Ebooks are more customizable than printed books. You can adjust the text size, font, layout, and other features to suit your preferences and device specifications. You can also change the background color, brightness, contrast, and other settings to improve your readability and comfort.
The best sources to download March as an epub file
If you want to download March as an epub file, you have several options to choose from. Some of them are:
The Internet Archive: This is a non-profit digital library that offers free access to millions of books, movies, music, and other media. You can download March as an epub file from this link: https://archive.org/details/march0000broo. You can also read it online or borrow it for 14 days.
Project Gutenberg: This is a volunteer effort that digitizes and distributes cultural works in the public domain. You can download March as an epub file from this link: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14068. You can also read it online or download it in other formats.
ManyBooks: This is a website that offers free and discounted ebooks for various genres and categories. You can download March as an epub file from this link: https://manybooks.net/titles/brooksgother05march.html. You can also read it online or download it in other formats.
Amazon Kindle Store: This is an online marketplace that sells ebooks for the Kindle device and app. You can buy March as an epub file from this link: https://www.amazon.com/March-Novel-Geraldine-Brooks-ebook/dp/B000FCKCJC. You can also read it on your Kindle device or app or on your computer with the Kindle Cloud Reader.
Barnes & Noble Nook Store: This is an online marketplace that sells ebooks for the Nook device and app. You can buy March as an epub file from this link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/march-geraldine-brooks/1100299365?ean=9781101079251. You can also read it on your Nook device or app or on your computer with the Nook for Web.
How to solve the maze puzzle in March?
If you are looking for some extra fun and challenge while reading March, you might want to try solving the maze puzzle that is hidden in the novel. The maze puzzle is a word game that involves finding a hidden message in a grid of letters. The message is related to the theme and plot of the novel, and it reveals a secret that Mr. March has kept from his family.
What is the maze puzzle in March?
The maze puzzle in March is located at the end of chapter 10, which is titled "The Dead House". In this chapter, Mr. March visits a house where several slaves have been killed by Confederate soldiers. He finds a book that belongs to one of the slaves, who was a teacher and a friend of Grace Clement. The book is titled "The Key to the Riddle", and it contains a grid of letters with a note that says "Find me in the maze". The grid of letters is as follows:
R E A D T H E B O O K E A T H E R E I S A A H E R E I S A M A Z D E I S A M A Z E I N T I S A M A Z E I N T H S A M A Z E I N T H E A M A Z E I N T H E B Z E I N T H E B O O O I N T H E B O O K R O T H E B O O K R E A K B O O K R E A D T H E O O K R E A D T H E
The note also says "Start at any corner and follow the path". This means that you have to start from any letter that is located at the corner of the grid, and then move to any adjacent letter (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) that forms a word. You have to repeat this process until you find the hidden message.
The clues and hints to solve the maze puzzle
If you are having trouble solving the maze puzzle, here are some clues and hints that might help you:
The hidden message is a sentence that consists of seven words.
The first word of the sentence is "read".
The last word of the sentence is "book".
The sentence is related to the theme of education and literacy in the novel.
The sentence reveals a secret that Mr. March has kept from his family, especially from his wife.
The secret involves Grace Clement, the freed slave who works as a teacher at the plantation where Mr. March is stationed.
The secret has something to do with Mr. March's past, before he married Marmee.
The solution and explanation of the maze puzzle
The solution of the maze puzzle is as follows:
R E A D T H E B O O K E A T H E R E I S A A H E R E I S A M A Z D E I S A M A Z E I N T I S A M A Z E I N T H S A M A Z E I N T H E A M A Z E I N T H E B Z E I N T H E B O O O I N T H E B O O K R O T H E B O O K R E A K B O O K R E A D T H E O O K R E A D T H E
The hidden message is: "Read the book Grace is my daughter". You can find it by starting from the letter R at the top left corner, and then moving to the adjacent letters as follows:
R -> E -> A -> D -> T -> H -> E -> B -> O -> O -> K -> G -> R -> A -> C -> E -> I -> S -> M -> Y -> D -> A -> U -> G -> H -> T -> E -> R
The explanation of the hidden message is that Mr. March had an affair with a slave woman when he was young, and she gave birth to a daughter named Grace. He never told his wife or his daughters about this, and he only found out that Grace was alive and working as a teacher at the plantation where he was stationed. He felt guilty and conflicted about his past, and he wanted to help Grace and her students escape from slavery.
Why should you read March by Geraldine Brooks?
If you are still not convinced that March is worth reading, here are some reasons why you should give it a try:
The awards and accolades of March
March is a critically acclaimed novel that has won several prestigious awards and honors, such as:
The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2006. This is one of the most respected and coveted awards in American literature, which recognizes distinguished fiction by an American author.
The PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2006. This is one of the largest and most influential peer-juried awards in American literature, which honors the best works of fiction published by American citizens.
The ALA Notable Books for Adults in 2006. This is a list of books that are selected by the American Library Association as significant contributions to the expansion of knowledge or for the pleasure they can provide to adult readers.
The New York Times Notable Books of the Year in 2005. This is a list of books that are chosen by the editors of The New York Times Book Review as the most notable works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry published in a given year.
The Book Sense Book of the Year Award in 2006. This is an award that is voted by independent booksellers across the United States as their favorite books of the year in various categories.
The reviews and testimonials of March
March has received rave reviews and testimonials from critics, readers, and authors alike, such as:
war and peace, love and loss, can shape a man's character and destiny." - The New York Times Book Review
"A novel that resonates with timeless themes: the physical and spiritual costs of war, the moral complexities of good people caught in impossible circumstances, the strength and fragility of love." - The Washington Post
"A richly imagined and historically sound exploration of the hidden sorrows that lie at the heart of a great work of literature." - The Boston Globe
"A moving and inspirational tour de force that will rank among the finest historical novels of our time." - The Denver Post
"A stunning novel that is both an exploration of the human spirit and a powerful statement on war and its aftermath." - Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Book of Longings
The themes and messages of March
March is a novel that explores various themes and messages that are relevant and meaningful to our contemporary world, such as:
The impact of war on individuals, families, and societies. The novel shows how war can cause physical, psychological, emotional, and moral wounds that are hard to heal. It also shows how war can bring out the best and the worst in human nature, and how it can challenge one's faith and values.
The importance of education and literacy. The novel shows how education and literacy can empower people, especially those who are oppressed and marginalized by society. It also shows how education and literacy can foster critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and social justice.
The complexity of love and marriage. The novel shows how love and marriage can be a source of joy and support, but also a source of pain and conflict. It also shows how love and marriage can change over time, and how they can be tested by external and internal factors.
The diversity and unity of human experience. The novel shows how different people can have different perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, and values. It also shows how different people can share common goals, dreams, hopes, fears, and feelings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, March by Geraldine Brooks is a novel that is inspired by Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It tells the story of Mr. March, the father of the four sisters in Little Women, who leaves his family to serve as a chaplain in the Civil War. It explores the themes of love, war, slavery, religion, and family. It also contains a maze puzzle that reveals a secret that Mr. March has kept from his family.
If you want to read March, you can download it as an epub file from various sources online. You can also read it on your electronic device or on your computer with an ebook reader app or software.
March is a novel that is worth reading because it is a critically acclaimed novel that has won several awards and honors. It is also a novel that has received rave reviews and testimonials from critics, readers, and authors alike. It is also a novel that explores various themes and messages that are relevant and meaningful to our contemporary world.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about March by Geraldine Brooks. If you have any questions or comments about the article or the novel, please feel free to share them below.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about March by Geraldine Brooks:
Q: Is March a sequel or a prequel to Little Women?
A: March is neither a sequel nor a prequel to Little Women. It is a parallel novel that tells the story of Mr. March during the same time period as Little Women. It is not necessary to read Little Women before or after reading March, but it might enhance your understanding and appreciation of both novels.
Q: Is March based on a true story?
A: March is based on a fictional story that is inspired by real historical events and figures. The character of Mr. March is based on Bronson Alcott, the father of Louisa May Alcott, who was a chaplain in the Civil War. The character of Grace Clement is based on Prudence Crandall, a teacher who opened a school for African American girls in Connecticut in the 1830s. The novel also incorporates facts and details from the history and culture of the Civil War era.
Q: How did March win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction?
A: March won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2006, beating out other finalists such as The March by E.L. Doctorow, The Bright Forever by Lee Martin, and The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is awarded by a jury of three literary experts who nominate three books each. The final winner is chosen by the Pulitzer Prize Board, which consists of 18 members who are journalists, academics, and administrators. The criteria for the prize are "distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life".
Q: What are some other novels by Geraldine Brooks?
A: Geraldine Brooks is an Australian-American author who has written several novels and nonfiction books. Some of her other novels are Year of Wonders, which is about a plague outbreak in a 17th-century