Elsie dinsmore was 8 when the story begins, an heiress. Spiritual independence in finleys elsie dinsmore series, alcotts. Due to values dissonance and the resultant unfortunate implications found in these novels by modern audiences, at the turn of the millennium mission city press published an adaptation of the series, a life of faith elsie dinsmore, that toned down the racism and parental abuse featured in the original texts. If 10 things i hate about you is your favorite teen movie, read. Homeschool alumni view topic elsie dinsmore and books.
What is the most horrible childrens book ever written. In this book, little elsie, who is, oh, i guess about 10 when the series starts, is living with her grandparents and a bunch of aunts and uncles and cousins, while her father, whom she has never met, is off in europe. She has never known her mother, who died when elsie was a baby, and she longs for a close, loving relationship with her father. Miss day, the governess, is unfair to her, and only chloe, her black mammy nurse, shows her love. Elsie is held up as the only heroine acceptable for little girls to model themselves after. Her greatest comforts are her faith and her mammy, chloe. Do you not agree with me that she would make as lovely abride today as she did ten years ago. Elsie dinsmore 1 elsies holidays at roselands 2 elsies girlhood 3 elsies womanhood 4 elsies motherhood 5 elsies children 6 elsies widowhood 7 grandmother elsie 8 elsies new relations 9 elsie at nantucket 10 the two.
Conly made an early call, prescribed, talked to her and eva in a cheerful strain, saying he hoped that rest and a change of weather would soon bring her at least a measure of relief and. Often, these are the only books other than the bible fundymommys will allow their girls to read. My elsie dinsmore book, by martha finley, has an 1896. The house has plenty of children, elsies aunts and uncles, most are close to her in age, just close enough to bully in some cases. Really, my little elsie, he said, you are quite original in your ideas, i suppose i ought to feel unhappy about these things, but indeed the truth is, i have never thought much about them. Elsie is very concerned about sabbathkeeping and what books and songs and pleasurable activities are allowed and not allowed. In the last few years, as i have made some new friends and started to actually talk to my friends about what they thought about things i. As this print on demand book is reprinted from a very old book, there could be some missing or flawed pages, but we always try to make the book as complete as possible. The complete series list for elsie dinsmore martha finley. While i havent personally read the elsie dinsmore books i know that many of you have and that the series is a.
To create a series or add a work to it, go to a work page. These nineteenthcentury fictional chronicles of a beautiful young heiress in the civil war south have captivated generations of 10 to 14yearold readers eager to follow elsies life from childhood to motherhood and beyond. And thank you, manybooks for helping introduce new generations of readers to these characters so many of us just seem to love to hate. This dissertationopen access is brought to you for free and open access by the graduate. He, however, has sent her off to be raised at roselands, his brothers. Im going to try to keep things very frustrated instead of weepy, if possible, but. Despite my slutty reputation, i was technically a virgin at eighteen.
Encourage the next generation of children to discover elsie dinsmore. Dinsmore, elsie fictitious character juvenile fiction subject. She is best known for her series of 28 books about elsie dinsmore, published between 1866 and 1934. What some people see through 21st century eyeglasses as racism, others simply see as reflecting the attitudes of the times to give us a historical view of how things used to be.
Murray, the irish former housekeeper of elsies mothers plantation viamede. Enter the name of the series to add the book to it. Elsie dinsmore is the favorite of fundymommys everywhere. The best commentary ive seen on this series is here, where the author points out that the elsie dinsmore series is antiintellectual, stagnant, joyless, doesnt recognize the important issues in life, and that great authors such as cs lewis and jrr tolkien would never have been allowed in elsie dinsmores house. Brand new full and complete elsie dinsmore book series by martha finley. Also, in the link to each chapter there are all and only the necessary add ons. Should be noted that theres plenty of anticatholic bias in this series as well. Elsie dinsmore is a 28 book series written in the late 1800s by southern authoress martha finley, capturing the life of 8yearold elsie who is oddly more upright and solid in her christian faith than nearly any other adult character portrayed in the series. Elsie is bullied by children older and younger than her. Young readers demanded more, causing miss finley to comply, until there were 28 books in the series. One of those things is an old book series called elsie.
I hate elsie for her perfectionism, her selfrighteousness. I would not allow my daughters to read this literature. These books are the gold standard of christian entertainment for little girls. We meet her in the overlyromanticized utopia of the precivil war era, as a. Elsie dinsmore is a young girl being raised by her grandparents. As a strong christian, she has many trials within the unbelieving family.
In the early 20th century, the terms elsie dinsmore, or alternatively dont be such an elsie dinsmore, were used against people who were considered dull sticksinthemud. This book has been deemed as a classic and has stood the test of time. Elsie dinsmore series in order martha finley fictiondb. Again, some strong bible believers hate the elsie dinsmore books while other equally strong bible believers like them. Its pretty bad im censoring the racial slurs, but still so if youre sensitive to that sort of thing, proceed with caution or, obviously, dont read this post if you dont want to. Morning found the invalid somewhat refreshed by her nights rest, yet too languid and feeble to leave her room, and her day was spent reclining upon a couch, with her daughter by her side. This ran for eight books and was succeeded by two additional eightbook series under. The elsie books 28book series, in its original unabridged text, probably models the christian family better than any other fiction. Although the facts of finleys life are vague, we do know she was born in ohio in 1828 and lived in indiana and pennsylvania. Henry and thomas pynchon both mocked it, organizations like the now defunct vision forum promote it, many christian readers think its evil or at the least unsettling, and among homeschoolers its currently enjoying a renaissance. Even the villains are basically good characters arthur dinsmore was insistent that his.
If you require further assistance, no worries, the question thread does not close even after leaving a rating. Elsie dinsmore part one why i am even writing this in the first place. Teen film 10 things i hate about you was released in theaters on march. Then you dont love jesus, she answered, mournfully.
Elsie, in this book, is a very young girl whose mother is dead and whose absent father has come over time to despise his allbutorphaned daughter. Right before elsie gets sick with brain fever, she has nightmares about being sent to catholic school, including nuns that look like demons. Elsies endless wait millies unsettled season violets hidden doubts laylies daring quest, elsies impossible choice, and several more. Elsie dinsmore by martha finley free ebook manybooks. Everything happens to elsie, both good things and bad things, and she always responds the right way. Elsie dinsmore 16 volume collection book 28, martha finley. Elsie dinsmore original elsie classics original elsie. A simple, pleasant woman with delicate features, never married and. A life of faith series is an adaptation of the bestselling 19th century elsie dinsmore novels written by martha finley.
Elsie dinsmore is a 28book series written in the late 1800s by southern authoress martha finley, capturing the life of 8yearold elsie who is oddly more upright and solid in her christian faith than nearly any other adult character portrayed in the series. Family life southern states juvenile fiction subject. I would state that although elsie is oversensitive, the book does give you a picture of her era. The common knowledge section now includes a series field. Yes indeed, darling, mildred said, making room for. Then i will do so, mildred said, reentering the arbor. I loved the elsie dinsmore, ed, books when i was younger.
Which, if you know me and my feelings about a certain lord of the rings. The elsie books the main problem i have with the elsie books is the characters are all so unbelievable. Elsies motherhood by martha finley, paperback barnes. Its not so much used anymore, but plenty of older movies do use this insult, such as theatrethemanwhocametodinner, where lead character sheridan. The first elsie book, elsie dinsmore, was written in 1860, by martha finley. An invalid for many years, miss finley wrote many of her books while prostrated with illness.
In the last few years, as i have made some new friends and started to actually talk to my friends about what they thought about things i was surprised by all the criticism, and mockery of ed. Its part of a series of childrens books for adults. As the saga of elsie dinsmore continues, elsie is now twentyone. I honestly liked the original books better, but this is a good series. Abuse, neglect, rigid christian doctrines and an extreme desire to know who she is without losing what she loves.
Her father does not hold to the same scruples, and in the second book a scenario is set up where he requests elsie to go against her moral beliefs and read to him a book she does not approve of on the sabbath. As youll see as we progess through the story, its not really a childrens book at all. Her mother was dead, and her father abroad, and she was living with relations in the big house on a plantation which we learn in later books is in virginia. Living at her uncles plantation, our heroine is criticized harshly by her. In the second book, he becomes a christian, and even that has no significant. Please take a moment to leave a rating by clicking the stars. Make sure you add this to the beginning and end of your recording. This post includes excerpts from elsie dinsmore books that are racist both.
No christian novel series has elicited as much controversy as the infamous elsie dinsmore series by martha finley. Its pretty bad im censoring the racial slurs, but still so if youre. A romantic comedy based on the classic shakespeare play. Besides updated, modern language, these editions have a stronger christian message, added historical information, a family tree, and other new features designed to enhance the books. The project gutenberg ebook of mildred and elsie, by. Elsie, young and motherless, has never met her father and is being raised by her fathers family. Brand new full and complete elsie dinsmore book series. She lives with her grandfather, his second wife, and their children, a couple of whom are younger than she is.
After three years of writing, her first book, elsie dinsmore, was published. Elsie dinsmore is an endearing eightyearold girl with several bewildering problems. Ya book recommendations that will practically be screaming i want you to. See more ideas about books, city press and good books. No, no, dinsmore, you must be our guest, said travilla, coming out andshaking hands cordially with his old friend. Elsie in the south, elsies young folks, elsies winter trip, elsie and her loved ones, elsie and her namesakes. Elsie dinsmorepart one why i am even writing this in the first place. She loved her lord, she loved his word, and this love was passed on to his sheep through the writing of by far the best and most biblical novels you will ever read. Her father, horace dinsmore, secretly married her mother when they were teenagers, and when his father found out, he sent horace to europe. Start of recording intro chapter number of elsie dinsmore. This post includes excerpts from elsie dinsmore books that are racist both excerpts and the books themselves.
However, some of the things that may aggravate you about elsie dinsmore, regarding her personality and her christian lifestyle actually go much deeper. Likewise, the example of elsies life is one of the best models for christian girls. Elsie dinsmore is just the beginning of a series of books about elsie, and it sets the pattern for all those to come. In some cases, as with chronicles of narnia, disagreements about order necessitate the creation of more than one series.