Tiffany Thayer (1902–1959)

Call Her Savage has all the appearances of a pulp novel, but really is a pretty well written book. Published in 1931 (and it is worthwhile to note that Thayer is male, despite his first name), it is the story of a "willful" woman who tries to live life on her own terms without knuckling under to society's norms (and the power of men). Surprisingly, the book begins with the main character's grandparents as they came across the plains in a wagon train, and worked up through the next generation to explain the character's antecedents.

At any rate, the book is very much in the "determinist" school, wherein characters are shaped by their environment in a way that leaves them very little wriggle room, fate-wise. Sort of a Theodore Dreiser with a touch more licentiousness.

A bit predictable in parts, but over all I enjoyed the characterizations and dialogue, and the ending worked quite well, which, to be honest, I wasn't expecting. I did a bit of investigation online and was fascinated to learn that this book was made into a move starring Clara Bow as part of her ongoing efforts to make the transition of silent screen star to talkies. Bow's work was generally praised in the movie, but the film itself was panned for being over sentimental and sensationalized.… (more)