Fanny Fern

I've decided that instead of ranting about the book this week, I would get to know the author, and probably end up ranting about her. Fanny Fern, Aka Sarah Payson Willis Parton received loads of backlash for this book.  Her main character (Gasp!) doesn't get married?! She doesn't depend on a man for money, instead she makes her own?! the Olive Branch was quoted as calling this book "eminently evil in it's tendencies and teachings".  I was amused to see how many men, and women actually were outraged by this book.  it's a female success story, she carved her own path without waiting for a man to do it for her, which Yay!!! I finally can read this book without cringing.  Fern's own back story could be made into a movie.  After losing her first husband to Typhoid, she begrudgingly marries Samuel Farrington, who turns out to be an abusive husband.  She leaves him, he spreads lies about her being promiscuous, and she can't get work because of the lies.  Her family scorns her because she's been married unsuccessfully twice and they refuse to help her. She starts writing for the newspapers, and this is where she starts reading about woman's suffrage, thus Ruth Hall was born.  So far, I like reading about her more than I enjoy reading the book.