The Girls
by Edna Ferber
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The Girls is Edna Ferber's first novel to depict multiple generations, a theme that would reemerge in much of her work. In the book, she tells the story of the Thrift women—a great aunt, a niece, and a grand niece—who live on Chicago's South Side. Published in 1921, the book was written with Ferber's characteristic flair for depicting determined women making their way in the world..
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Surprisingly enjoyable book. Written in 1921, it is the story of 3 generations of a family in Chicago that is dominated by strong women who, in the cloak of righteousness and family responsibility, actually stifle their younger women from pursuing any sense of lives of their own. The 3 generations of 'girls' all have romantic connections, albeit brief in some instances, but are never able to follow through due to intense social and family pressure. As time moves on, each generation resists more strongly, with varying degrees of success. Ferber always tells a lively tale, allows the reader to connect strongly with her main characters, and keeps the interest moving along. My favorite aspect of this was definitely the detailed description show more of daily household life in the city of Chicago and all its growing pains from the Civil War through the end of WWI. I especially enjoyed them running around the city in their dated turn of the century electric automobile! (Much of my life revolves around antique cars and i am the caretaker of 2 early electric cars.) I have always enjoyed works by Ferber. They are somewhat unique in their focus on women breaking free of their societal shackles without being overtly political. The stories are charming and move along briskly. I look forward to more. show less
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72+ Works 4,970 Members
Edna Ferber was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Aug. 15, 1885. She spent her early career as a reporter. In 1910, Everybody's Magazine published her short story, The Homely Heroine, set in Appleton, Wisconsin. Ferber's novel, Dawn O'Hara, the story of a newspaperwoman in Milwaukee, followed in 1911. She gained national attention for her series of show more Emma McChesney stories, tales of a traveling underskirt saleswoman that were published in national magazines. A play based on the stories, Our Mrs. McChesney, was produced in 1915, starring Ethel Barrymore. With collaborator George S. Kaufman, Ferber wrote acclaimed plays Dinner at Eight and The Royal Family. Ferber won the Pulitzer Prize in 1925 for So Big, the story of a woman raising a child on a truck farm outside of Chicago. Her best known books include Show Boat, Cimarron, Giant and Ice Palace. Show Boat was made into a classic movie and Broadway musical; the film version of Cimarron, won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1931. Ferber wrote two autobiographies, A Peculiar Treasure published in 1939 and A Kind of Magic in 1963. She died of cancer on April 16, 1968. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Original title
- The Girls
- Original publication date
- 1921
- People/Characters
- Charlotte Thrift; Lottie Payson; Charley Kemp
- Dedication
- To
Lillian Adler
who shies at butterflies
but not at life - First words
- It is a question of method. Whether to rush you up to the girls pell-mell, leaving you to become acquainted as best you can; or, with elaborate slyness, to slip you so casually into their family life that they will not even g... (show all)lance up when you enter the room or leave it; or to present the three of them in solemn order according to age, epoch, and story.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The nursery room was quiet except for the breathing of the child.
- Original language
- English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 52
- Popularity
- 581,079
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.83)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 6
