A woman of the New World: Sandra Freels' biographical novel about early American colonist Anneke Jans

Anneke Jans (1605-1663) was an early settler in the Dutch colony of New Netherland. Born in Norway, she voyaged to the New World with her husband Roelof, originally a sailor, and their two daughters. After landing at Fort Amsterdam, they headed north to Fort Orange (near Albany), where Roelof was commissioned to run a farm on the land of patroon Kiliaen van Rensselaer, prominent director of the Dutch West India Company.

The growing family later relocated back to New Amsterdam, where Anneke, who married twice, would have had a firsthand view of the new colony’s development and expansion – including contentious relations with the Native tribes and with the English.

What an eventful life she must have led! She left an extensive legacy: not only descendants that number in the millions, but also a famous, centuries-long land dispute centering on a 62-acre farm in the heart of Manhattan that she inherited from her first husband.

Pub. by She Writes (2026, 185pp)

Sandra Freels’ debut novel Anneke Jans in the New World, appropriately described by the author as a fictional biography, brings us into the day-to-day life of this notable figure and the political and social turmoil she lived through. Anneke is a likeable woman: amiable, practical, and always with an eye on how to improve her family members’ lives. This includes accepting the fact that, as a widow with multiple children, she must quickly remarry after Roelof dies at a tragically young age.

Her second husband Evert Bogart – who’s allowed to call himself Everardus Bogardus due to his university education (and does) – is quite the colorful character. Anneke holds her own against his forceful personality. Though being the wife of a dominee (minister) of the Dutch Reformed Church doesn’t come naturally to Anneke, she amusingly rehearses for the role so the community will find her facial expressions believable in church.

Freels enhances Anneke’s life with detailed descriptions of period customs, such as women’s experiences of the birthing chair, and her children’s celebrations of Christmastime, or Sinterklaas. Anneke also forms a friendship with a woman of the Native tribes (who the Dutch called “Wilden”) and recognizes the importance of trading gifts with her and her people.

However, Anneke isn’t given to much self-reflection. Many scenes are recounted in summary rather than shown firsthand, which diminishes the novel’s emotional engagement. Also, the sections that step away from Anneke’s viewpoint to show the larger political sphere from different perspectives are informative but feel out of place. A stronger developmental edit could have smoothed out the novel’s many bumps.

Even if her emotions aren’t as open to the reader as they could have been, Anneke’s confidence increases as she ages, making her seem even more admirable. Rich in land but not money, Anneke does what she must to ensure her descendants’ livelihoods. She and Evert, different as they are, make a good match.

While characters’ winks to modern knowledge don’t always work in historical fiction, it does feel natural for Evert to joke to the Director of New Netherland before his wedding that sure, Roelof’s farm “is going to be worth a fortune someday.” Who would have known back then that this undistinguished plot would become prime Manhattan real estate? The characters’ abilities to tease one another and do their best to adapt during trying times make them appealing company throughout this flawed but edifying novel.