A review by theresidentbookworm
Or Give Me Death: A Novel of Patrick Henry's Family by Ann Rinaldi

3.0

Ann Rinaldi is a fantastic writer, and I've never not enjoyed one of her novels. They are all fascinating and exceptionally well researched, and Or Give Me Death was no different. The story starts in the eldest Henry daughter Patsy's narrative just when Sarah Henry is starting to lose her mind. I thought it was really interesting to see how mental illness was handled back then, especially in a family where the dad was famous and their reputation important. Rinaldi always does a great job of probing behind famous figures in history and seeing what their families are really like. Patrick Henry was absent most of the time, but at least he had the decency not to lock his wife up in an asylum. I didn't really care for Patsy's narrative. She was a little too whinny and mean to her siblings. Anne, on the other hand, was lively and spirited, her narrative showing a wide range of emotions. This is where the true story really starts, and Rinaldi would've been better off starting it here. Anne struggles with a dangerous secret, and it's slowly ripping her apart. The Henry family dynamic is complicated, and Anne is constantly domineered by Patsy. The only real thing that bugged me about Anne's narrative was the unexplored romance only mentioned once.

Another wonderful effort by Rinaldi! Recommended.