The Chief Factor’s Daughter by Vanessa Winn

Victoria’s history is written in her streets and landmarks, from Mount Tolmie to Begbie Street. Living there, I knew that many of the names were based on historical figures. Other than reading the occasional historical plaque, I never took the time to find out more. Then I picked up The Chief Factor’s Daughter by Vanessa Winn this summer. This novel is a fascinating glimpse into the fur trade history of British Columbia’s capital city.

The Chief Factor’s Daughter plot summary

Margaret is the fourth daughter of Chief Factor John Work. As the story begins, she’s the oldest daughter at home—and at age 23, almost an old maid. She helps her older sisters take care of their children, tutors her younger siblings, and tries to navigate the social dynamics of a fur trade town on the edge of change.

As more British settlers arrive in the colony, Margaret is increasingly aware of her Native heritage. The comings and goings of the Boundary Commission and Navy officers offer distractions and dances to fort society, but Margaret has come to realize that they have no intention of settling in the colony—or taking a non-British wife back to England. The 1958 Gold Rush brings a swell of equally unsuitable suitors to town.

The Fraser Gold Rush breathed an air of possibility into the village of Victoria, and while the men prospected for gold and speculated on land, the women speculated on prospects of another kind. It was to the infinite regret of his daughters, then, that Mr. Work had banished them from Fort Victoria since the spring, wen the gold minders had flooded the trading post en route to the Fraser River. ~ The Chief Factor’s Daughter

Through Margaret, we meet all the leading families in Victoria: Dr. Tolmie, Dr. Helmcken, the Langfords, the Finlaysons, and others. With her, we travel the muddy, dusty roads from her home at Hillside to the growing town of Victoria, or row from the harbour around to Esquimalt for social gatherings. We see the walls of the fort come down, a new church go up, and ships come and go.

Each chapter begins with a historical quote from journals or letters by one of the Work’s associates. These provide an interesting and often humorous perspective on the events narrated by Margaret. Winn includes an epilogue, which details what happens to the main players after the novels ends.

My thoughts

The Chief Factor’s Daughter reminded me of a Jane Austen novel. Like many of Austen’s heroines, Margaret is navigating the murky waters of courtship and marriage. She and her sister Mary made me think of Lizzie and Jane in Pride and Prejudice, complete with a younger sister (Kate) to keep in check. All three girls are unique, complete characters, beautifully brought alive by Winn’s in-depth research and lyric writing.

With its wealth of domestic details, the book conveys a vivid sense of the flavour of the times-the muddy roads, the encampments of natives and gold-seekers, the rivalries between the first families, the modes of transportation, and the social events. With its graceful style and appealing characters, it provides a great introduction to an historical study of British Columbia for readers of all ages, and should be a popular addition to every school library. ~ ABC BookWorld

Readers familiar with Victoria, BC, will find The Chief Factor’s Daughter to be a fascinating glimpse at the city’s early days. If you’ve never been to Victoria, don’t worry—the novel stands on its own as a historical romance. The Chief Factor’s Daughter is an engaging, readable story about a thoroughly likeable heroine in an interesting historical era.

More about Vanessa Winn

Vanessa Winn has a B.A. in English from the University of Victoria. She was born in England but now makes her home in Victoria, BC, with her two daughters. She writes nonfiction and poetry as well as fiction. The Chief Factor’s Daughter is her first novel. When she’s not writing, she enjoys music and dancing and currently teaches Argentine tango.

To find out more about Vanessa and her writing, drop by her website. You can also read my interview with Vanessa about her books and writing.

Readers who enjoy Margaret’s story will want to grab Vanessa’s second novel, Trappings, which follows Margaret’s younger sister Kate through married life during Victoria’s post-gold rush depression era.