Mary Johnston 
To Have and To Hold 

To Have and To Hold – Mary Johnston – This was the #1 best-selling novel in the United States in 1900, made into movies several times in subsequent years. It is set in colonial North America, beginning in the year 1621. A new movie adapted from the book was filmed in 2011.The dialog is Early Modern English, somewhat similar to Shakespeare’s writings, not contemporary English but similar enough to be understood. The narration is almost modern English, easily understood.

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.The daughter of an American Civil War soldier who became a successful lawyer, Mary Johnston was born in the small town of Buchanan, Virginia. A small and frail girl, she was educated at home by family and tutors. She grew up with a love of books and was financially independent enough to devote herself to writing.Johnston wrote historical books and novels that often combined romance with history. Her novels were bestsellers in America, Canada and England.During her long career, in addition to twenty-three novels, Johnston wrote a number of short stories, one drama, and two long narrative poems. She used her fame to advocate women’s rights, strongly supporting the women’s suffrage movement.