A Pilgrim Maid: A Story of Plymouth Colony in 1620

A historical novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Constance Hopkins, a young girl traveling aboard the Mayflower, who navigates the challenges of her new life in the Plymouth Colony alongside her family and other pioneering settlers. The book presents a blend of fact and fiction, aiming to illuminate the experiences and sentiments of the early 17th-century pilgrims as they brace for a harsh wilderness. At the start of the narrative, we find Constance observing the final preparations for the Mayflower's departure from England. While she is filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation about the journey ahead, her relationship with her stepmother, Mistress Eliza, is strained, marked by tension and jealousy. This familial discord is set against the backdrop of the ship's bustling deck, where she interacts with her brothers and fellow pilgrims. Soon, as the ship sets sail towards the unknown, Constance grapples with thoughts of home, the harsh realities of their voyage, and her hopes for a better life in the New World, revealing her resilience as she faces the uncertainties that lie ahead.