Anya Seton’s bestselling first novel, originally published in 1941, captures all the drama of the short life of Theodosia Burr (1783-1813).

Theodosia’s father is Aaron Burr–Thomas Jefferson’s vice president, most famous for his great duel with Alexander Hamilton. With charm and tenderness, he holds sway over young Theodosia’s heart, but his arrogance forces her to choose between the man he insists she marry and her love for a young soldier who will turn out to play a decisive role in her father’s fate. Persuaded by Aaron that she will soon be crowned princess of the Kingdom of Mexico as a result of his treasonable plans, she is received like royalty on Blennerhassett Island, only to end up trying to exonerate him as he awaits trial in a Richmond jail, repudiated by his fickle son-in-law and friends.

Theodosia remains a haunting figure in American history, still lovely, still imperious, never vanquished.

To be honest, the name Theodosia would have meant nothing to me before the Hamilton era… and of course, once my book group selected this historical novel about Aaron Burr’s daughter, this was all I could think of:

My Theodosia opens with Theodosia Burr’s 17th birthday. She’s the pretty, vivacious daughter of Aaron Burr, a man with unlimited ambitions and the highest of standards for his beloved daughter. He oversees every aspect of her upbringing, demanding excellence in her studies, perfect beauty, and social graces to help move all his own machinations forward.

She was flesh of his flesh, an infinitely dear projection of himself.

As Theo will soon learn, while he loves her immensely, he’s also keenly focused on making sure that her future marriage will be advantageous for him, including providing a source of wealth to keep his expensive lifestyle afloat and help propel him into the Presidency.

Theo, meanwhile, adores and idolizes her father, while also basking in the attention and admiration that surrounds her. While she may not want the marriage Aaron decides upon, she obeys her father’s wishes in this as in all things. By age 18, Theo is married to Joseph Alston, a wealthy plantation owner from South Carolina who has the funds and the political clout to further Aaron’s political ambitions.

My Theodosia follows Theo through the ten years between her marriage and her untimely death, with Aaron’s life and scandals as the backdrop to all of Theo’s own feelings, desires, and plans. No matter what else occurs in her life, her father always is her priority, to the detriment of her marriage and her security. Key events, such as the Hamilton duel, happen mainly off the page, and we experience these through Theo’s eyes, as she worries for Aaron, rushes to his defense whenever she can, and makes his well-being and reputation her primary objectives.

Reading this book over 80 years after its original publication, I found it difficult to enjoy. Theo and Aaron’s relationship is problematic and dysfunctional in so many ways. Theo’s overriding dedication to Aaron feels unhealthy, and his focus and molding of her is disturbing.

He did not quite admit it to himself, but he would have opposed any match with a man whom she passionately desired. He had no intention of transferring her devotion from himself to another. Her worship was the sweetest thing in life.

Most difficult for me as a modern reader is the casual racism that permeates the book. We might expect a slave-owner such as Joseph (and the rest of his family) to hold abhorrent views, but even Aaron and Theo, supposedly more enlightened New Yorkers, use the n-word freely and invoke all sorts of degrading and disparaging language in reference to the slaves and servants of color in their lives. I suppose some might argue that the author was attempting to evoke the prevailing attitudes of the time she was portraying, and perhaps that was more acceptable at the time of publication, but reading the book today, it’s awful — no two ways about it.

While the storytelling style is immersive, I often found myself wondering about sources and historical accuracy. There’s a brief author’s note, but it doesn’t shed much light on how much of the story is substantiated through historical documentation and how much is embroidered or speculative. (For example, the idea that the passionate yet unfulfilled love of Theodosia’s life was Meriweather Lewis is, as far as I can tell, an invention of the author’s and is not supported by historical evidence.)

My Theodosia was Anya Seton’s first novel. I understand that many of her subsequent books are quite beloved. However, based on my experiences with My Theodosia, I don’t feel particularly compelled to explore her works any further.

As for My Theodosia itself, I can’t say I particularly recommend it. On the one hand, it’s an informative look at the life of a woman I knew nothing about, and through her, a look into the character and life of Aaron Burr beyond his Hamilton-related infamy. On the other hand, the racism, sexism, and uncomfortable father-daughter relationship make this an unpleasant reading experience overall. If not for my upcoming book group discussion, I most likely would have put the book aside and not finished it.

I’d be curious to hear from anyone who’s read other books by Anya Seton. Are there any you recommend? And if you’ve read My Theodosia, I’d love to hear your perspective as well.