The Charleston Earthquake of August 31, 1886 (8.6 on the Richter scale) was strong enough to be felt in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans and Milwaukee. It caused speculation that Florida had broken off the continent. [Wikipedia: 1886 Charleston earthquake] Roe’s novel explores its effects in the context of the relations between North and South after the American Civil War.

Edward Payson Roe (1838-1888) was educated at Williams College and Auburn Theological Seminary. He was chaplain of the Second New York Cavalry, U.S.V. and of Hampton Hospital during the Civil War, during which time he submitted weekly dispatches to the New York Evangelist. He served as pastor at Highland Falls, New York after the war, and in 1874 devoted himself to writing and horticulture.[Wikipedia: Edward Roe]

“Roe first turned to a literary career after the Chicago fire of 1871. Deeply moved by the tragedy, he visited Chicago and penned his first novel, Barriers Burned Away, which proved a tremendous success. Rev. Roe died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of fifty after an evening reading aloud to his family."[Monte Wilson]

His books include:

• Miss Lou (unfinished)
• An Original Belle
• A Young Girl’s Wooing
• The Earth Trembled
• A Knight of the 19th Century
• A Day of Fate
• Opening a Chestnut Burr
• Barriers Burned Away
• He Fell in Love with His Wife
• A Face Illumined
• From Jest to Earnest

Book Contents

• Preface by Lutheran Librarian
• Reviews for The Earth Trembled
• 1 Mary Wallingford
• 2 Love’s Agony
• 3 Uncle Sheba’s Experience
• 4 Mara
• 5 Past And Future
• 6 “Pahnaship”
• 7 Mara’s Purpose
• 8 Never Forget; Never Forgive
• 9 A New Solace
• 10 Miss Ainsley
• 11 Two Questions
• 12 A “’Fabulation”
• 13 Captain Bodine
• 14 “All Girls Together”
• 15 Two Little Bakers
• 16 Honest Foes
• 17 Fireside Dramas
• 18 A Fair Duellist
• 19 A Chivalrous Impulse
• 20 The Stranger Explains
• 21 Uncle Sheba Sat Upon
• 22 Young Houghton Is Discussed
• 23 The Warning
• 24 “The Idea!”
• 25 Feminine Friends
• 26 Ella’s Crumb Of Comfort
• 27 Recognized As Lover
• 28 “Heaven Speed You Then”
• 29 Consternation
• 30 Tempests
• 31 “I Absolve You”
• 32 False Self-sacrifice
• 33 A Sure Test
• 34 “Bitterness Must Be Cherished”
• 35 Noble Revenge
• 36 A Father’s Frenzy
• 37 Clouds Lifting
• 38 “Yes, Vilet”
• 39 The Earthquake
• 40 “God”
• 41 Scenes Never To Be Forgotten
• 42 A Homeless City
• 43 “The Terror By Night”
• 44 Hope Turned Into Dread
• 45 A City Encamping
• 46 “On Jordan’s Banks We Stand”
• 47 Lights And Shadows Of A Night
• 48 Good Brought Out Of Evil
• Copyright Notice

Publication Information

• Lutheran Library edition first published: 2019
• Copyright: CC BY 4.0