Research Analysis thus far

“A narrative of the life of Mrs. Mary Jemison who was taken by the Indians, in the year 1755, when only about twelve years of age, and has continued to reside am...
by James E. Seaver.

Author: Seaver, James E. (James Everett) 1787-1827
Published: Canadaigua [N.Y.] : Printed by J.D. Bemis, 1824.

That's a really long title!

I believe the reading public of the time was fascinated by anything having to do with captivity narratives. This one was especially popular since the female protagonist remained with her captors. I chose this book because of Faith Leslie, the sister of Hope. Faith is captured by the Indians and...I'll let you guys figure it out when we read the book, "Hope Leslie."

Seaver's text seems to be one of the most popular books of the time. There was even a fictionalized account of Mary Jemison’s life created and illustrated as a children’s book. I am beginning to be really curious why this book was reprinted time and time again…

The title page of the first editions reads:
A NARRATIVE
OF THE LIFE OF
MRS. MARY JEMISON.
Who was taken by the Indians, in the year 1755, when only about twelve years of age, and has continued to reside amongst them to the present time.
CONTAINING
An Account of the Murder of her
Father and his Family; her sufferings; her marriage to two Indians; her troubles with her children; barbarities of the Indians in the French and Revolutionary Wars; the life of her last Husband &c.; and many Historical Facts never before published.
Carefully taken from her own words, Nov. 29th, 1823

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

An Appendix, containing an
account of the tragedy at the Devil’s Hole. in 1763, and of Sullivan’s Expedition; the Traditions, Manners, Customs, &c. of the Indians, as believed and practiced at the present day, and since Mrs. Jemison’s captivity; together with some Anecdotes, and other entertaining matter.

BY JAMES E. SEAVER

CANANDAIGUA:
PRINTED BY J.D. BEMIS AND CO.

What this title page of the first edition tells me is that it had to reveal a large amount about the book to the reader before the reader even opened it. To me, it seems like it is a full page advertisement right at the start of the book. Readers will know everything they need to know to make an informed decision as to whether to read this text or not. What I am curious to find out is how the advertising for this book changed over the years. When you look at the 1824 title page and compare it to the 1856 title page, what happened between those years that the publisher didn’t feel the need to include as much information on the title page. The book, by 1856 have it’s own “buzz” around it? Did they still have to market it? If so, did they have to market it differently?

By 1856, the title page had been reduced down to:
LIFE
OF
MARY JEMISON
DEH-HE-WA-MIS.

By JAMES E. SEAVER

Fourth Edition,
WITH GEOGRAPHICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

This got me to thinking. Has the readership changed? Why is there so much less information on the fourth edition’s title page? Is the narrative so well known at this point, the descriptive summary on the title page was no longer necessary?

I have 38 reprintings listed on my inventory...from 1824 to 2006. I think the fact that this narrative has been republished so many times over the years lends itself to further investigation. What is so captivating about this particular captivity narrative? Who kept purchasing it over the years? How was it marketed? I am really intrigued by the marketing aspects of this text. What went on with the first edition that made it such a success that it is still being reprinted in the 21st century?

:)