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Ruth Hall

Fanny Fern

Book Overview: 

This is a COMPELLING semi-autobiography of a woman who experienced severe highs and lows! Starting many things at a very young age in life & experiencing incredible happiness! Only all too soon to find herself in extreme opposite situations. This book shows some of the true heartlessness that some human beings can display, as well as some family. It conveys hypocrisy of some in the religious world. It also displays true grit and what desperation can do to drive a person!

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Book Excerpt: 
. . .ck to your hands; the sugar-bowl is covered; the cake, in that tin pail, is fresh and light; the preserves, in those glass jars, tied down with brandy papers, are clear as amber; and the silver might serve for a looking-glass, in which you could read your own vexation.

Never mind! A great many people keep the first floor spick and span; mayhap you’ll find something wrong up stairs. Walk in; ’tis the “best chamber.” A gilt arrow is fastened to the wall, and pretty white lace curtains are thrown (tent fashion) over it; there is a snow-white quilt and a pair of plump, tempting pillows; the furniture and carpet are of a light cream color; and there is a vase of honeysuckle on the little light-stand. Nothing could be more faultless, you see.

Now, step into the nursery; the floor is strewed with play-things; thank God, there’s a child in the house! There is a broken doll; a torn picture-book; a little wreath of oak leaves; a d. . . Read More

Community Reviews

*NOTE* This about the NOVEL only, and not the "Other writings."

If ever there was a pioneer in women's rights and feminism, Fanny Fern (born Sara Willis) was she. And if ever there was a book that was the cornerstone of such movements, Ruth Hall (1854) is it. Sure, there had been others before her, b

Dickensian in theme, my biggest problem with this book are the spiteful soliloquies Fern has some of her characters make. The characters seem to be more concerned with making the reader see what horrid human beings they are rather than communicating with the other characters. It has a feel-good endi

This book contains the 1854 novel Ruth Hall, as well as the author's newspaper columns.

Fanny Fern was the pseudonym of Sara Payson Willis, who was the first female columnist in America, and for a time the highest paid journalist. I checked out this book to read her columns, which were straight-spoke

The sentimentality is so over the top that I found it weirdly fascinating.

“death’s dark wing.”

“velvet cheek nestled up to as velvet a bosom.”

"A bitter smile struggled with the hot tear that fell upon Ruth’s cheek. ‘I have tried the unobtrusive employment,’ said Ruth; ‘the wages are six cents a da

Fanny Fern will not celebrate Independence Day until society allows her to leave her house without a hat.

I think we should all read Fanny Fern.

This book is surprisingly good. Before reading it, I had the mistaken impression that Fanny Fern was an old-fashioned sentimental writer who encouraged women to be happy homemakers. WRONG. Quite the opposite.

Ms. Fern (a pseudonym) actually wrote about encouraging women to be financially independent

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