Category: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Group
ISBN: 0140436405
Pub. Date: February 1997 (Reprint)
Date Read: October 2008
From the Introduction: Fern's unconventional and intensely autobiographical novel is the story of a woman who perseveres despite the rigid social expectations and cultural pressures for women in her time. It is also a first-hand account of the development of the profession of writing and the conditions in the expanding literary market-place of mid-nineteenth-century America, a marketplace few understood so well or explored so triumphantly as Fanny Fern.
Fern's bestseller from 1855 explores the life of Ruth Hall in what the writer presented as a domestic tale. There is no intricate plot or startling developments, as per her introduction, but simply the story of a woman trying to make the most of her circumstances.
The novel starts with Ruth contemplating her life so far on the eve of her wedding. She is almost alone in the world but hopes that her marriage to Harry Hall will be successful but of course Ruth didn't count on her in-laws. Harry's mother finds fault with Ruth in every way but Ruth vows to endure her new family for the sake of her husband.
Ruth and Harry finally seem to find peace in their life with the birth of their daughter, Daisy, and their move to the country and away from the in-laws, but their happiness will be short-lived when Daisy dies. More tragedy is in their future when Harry dies and leaves Ruth and their two daugthers, Netty and Katy on their own.
Ruth's in-laws are horried to Ruth and the girls. They have blamed Ruth for everything that has happened and now refuse to help them. Ruth's father and brother also wash their hands of Ruth and the girls.
What follows then is the difficult life Ruth will face as she tries to gain employment and be the sole provider for her girls. Not an easy thing to do in any time, much less in 1855. Finally luck seems to be turning when Ruth begins to write articles and is able to make a living via her writing.
While I found Ruth's beginning in journalism very interesting, the whole time I was very distracted by the actions of the in-laws. Why would these people be so set against Ruth? Even when Harry dies, their only son, they seemed most interested in making sure no penny was going to go to Ruth.
The novel is told in short chapters and luckily does end on a more upbeat note. I was glad for Ruth finding her way in the world but just so sad for her little girls. A novel where may be there's not an intricate plot but definitely high drama.