Abraham S. Holmes
Abraham S. Holmes was a 19th-century Canadian author best known for his only novel, "Belinda, Or: The Rivals," published in 1843. This work is significant in Canadian literature as it represents early fiction from the region, reflecting the cultural context of settled rural communities rather than the adventures of pioneers or Indigenous peoples. Born around 1821 in Raleigh Township, Upper Canada, Holmes was the son of a Methodist pastor and a second-generation settler. He trained as a lawyer, practiced in Chatham, and was a cofounder of the local public library.
"Belinda" explores themes of seduction within domestic and religious contexts, featuring a complex protagonist who actively engages in her romantic pursuits. The narrative challenges traditional depictions of women in literature, incorporating elements of satire and social commentary, particularly regarding religious hypocrisy. Despite its initial obscurity, the novel was rediscovered, leading to modern reprints in the 1970s, and it has since been recognized as an important piece in the canon of early Canadian fiction. Holmes passed away in 1908, leaving behind a legacy that continues to intrigue literary scholars and historians alike.
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Abraham S. Holmes
Author
- Born: c. 1821
- Birthplace: Raleigh Township, Ontario, Canada
- Died: March 4, 1908
Biography
Abraham S. Holmes’s claim to literary fame is just one novel, Belinda, Or: The Rivals, published in 1843. The novel is significant in the history of Canadian literature because it was published in middle of the nineteenth century, thus offering an example of early Canadian fiction. Belinda was not written to describe the romance of pioneer Canada to non-Canadians by recounting the adventures of Native Americans, trappers, and pioneers. Instead, it is clearly written for a settled rural community and appears to be based on actual characters that Holmes knew. In other words, it is written for a Canadian audience who already know where they lived, and Holmes thus does not spend much time in describing the setting or scenery.
Holmes was born around 1821 on a farm in Raleigh Township in Upper Canada, now the province of Ontario. His father, Ninian Holmes, had been a Methodist pastor on the Detroit circuit who had retired to farm. His mother was born Elizabeth Newkirk, a second-generation Canadian settler. Holmes trained as a lawyer and settled in Chatham to practice, where he is remembered as one of the cofounders of the public library. Apart from a few poems and letters to the local newspaper, his only literary production was the novel Belinda, published in Detroit. Holmes died in 1908.
Belinda is a story about seduction, both domestic and religious. A paper found in the one surviving copy of the novel, lodged in the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library, suggests the character of Belinda is based on a Hester Ann Richardson, who died in 1840 shortly after her marriage. But Belinda is not the heroine seduced, as was the typical scenario dating back to eighteenth century British author Samuel Richardson’s Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded and Clarissa: Or, The History of a Young Lady. Instead, Belinda is active in the seduction, having a long list of male broken hearts to her debit. After a broken engagement, she becomes religious, speaking at revival meetings. Here she meets a married man, and under the guise of religious talk a further seduction is nearly achieved. A younger man intervenes and marries Belinda, only to find she is already pregnant. He accepts this but society does not.
The novel’s tone makes it difficult to read. It appears to be a mixture of the naïve and sophisticated, so it is not entirely clear if this is straightforward narrative, a satire on religious and domestic morality, or a send-up of the novel of seduction, with role reversals. The biggest clue seems to be the obvious hypocrisy of its religious language, which suggests an overall satiric tone.
Tthe book disappeared from view for many years until a single copy was found in the Detroit Public Library. Since that discovery, a modern version has been reprinted by Alcuin, a publishing house based in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1970, and a revised version was published by Anansi in Toronto in 1975. The book has earned a place in the history of early Canadian fiction.