The book blurb paints Clara as "memorable" and struggling for "independence". I'm going to guess that whoever wrote that blurb did not mean "memorable" in a good way. As for struggling for "independence" (by being dependent on men), well, that's just fanciful. Manipulative? yes. Phony?
yes. Grasping? yes. Contemptuous of her child? yes. Loving to Revere, or at least liking him, or at least maybe liking him? Your guess is as good as mine, as she is mercurial in her relationships with anyone but herself. Vindictive? well, just check out her opinion when Revere's wife finally dies. I had to take many 1-2 day breaks from this book because I could not find a single character in it that I liked - not a single one. I had to force myself to finish this book, but I'm sorry I wasted my time.