Amelia E. Barr’s "The Bow of Orange Ribbon" is a sweeping historical romance set in New York City during the tumultuous years leading up to the American Revolution. The story centers on the Dutch Van Heemskirk family, who are loyal to the English crown, and their interactions with the English ruling class. The heart of the novel is the forbidden love between Lysbet Van Heemskirk, a beautiful and spirited Dutch maiden, and the handsome English officer, Captain Neil Semple. Their romance is fraught with tension, as it is opposed by both their families and set against a backdrop of increasing political unrest. The "bow of orange ribbon" of the title is a symbol of Lysbet's heritage and her initial loyalist sympathies. As the Stamp Act riots erupt and the cry for independence grows louder, the characters are forced to choose sides in a conflict that threatens to tear families and friendships apart. The novel vividly portrays the social life of old New York, with its sharp divisions between the Dutch Knickerbocker families and the English aristocracy. Amelia E. Barr meticulously weaves the personal dramas of her characters with the grand historical events of the time, creating a poignant story about love, duty, and the birth of a nation, where personal and political loyalties are tested to their limits.

Table of Contents:

• The Bow of Orange Ribbon. Part 1

• The Bow of Orange Ribbon. Part 2

• The Bow of Orange Ribbon. Part 3

• The Bow of Orange Ribbon. Part 4

• The Bow of Orange Ribbon Part 5