Showing results by author "Edna Ferber" in All Categories

Dive into the poignant story of Selina DeJong and her son, affectionately known as So Big. Following the tragic loss of her husband, Selina bravely takes on the challenge of raising So Big alone while also managing the family farm in rural Illinois. As So Big matures, he ventures into the bustling streets of 1920s Chicago, enticed by the allure of the high-stakes stock-broker lifestyle. Torn between his desire for wealth and the traditional values instilled by his mother—and the expectations of his love interest, an aspiring artist—So Big grapples with the conflict between ambition and ...

Dive into the captivating conclusion of Edna Ferbers trilogy featuring the sharp-witted, stylish, and fiercely independent Emma McChesney. Transitioning from a stenographer to a successful business owner, Emma has proven herself time and again in the male-dominated world of commerce. In this final volume, set against the backdrop of 1915, Emmas son Jock has moved to Chicago with his new wife, prompting Emma to embark on a bold venture selling in South America. As she navigates romance, business challenges, and personal growth, Emma embodies the ideal woman of the early twentieth century ...

In this early novel by Edna Ferber, a successful, charming businesswoman watches and encourages her handsome son as he faces the challenges and pressures of the advertising world.

So Big is the unforgettable story of the indomitable Selina Peake DeJong and her struggles to stay afloat and maintain her dignity in the face of a challenging marriage, widowhood, and single parenthood.

One of Edna Ferber’s most important early novels. Meet Fanny Brandeis—sturdy, alert, and endlessly determined. Edna Ferber’s Fanny Herself (1917) follows a Jewish-American woman in a small Wisconsin town who dares to dream beyond her circumstances. With wit, grit, and piercing brown eyes that see the world too clearly, Fanny struggles to balance duty, ambition, and her own individuality in a society that resists women’s independence.

A beautifully crafted collection of eight short stories by Edna Ferber: In Gigolo, Edna Ferber delves into the minds of eight diverse characters from all walks and stages of life.

In this continuation of Pulitzer Prize-winner Edna Ferber's series set at the turn of the 20th century, the magnetic divorcée Emma McChesney faces a new set of challenges. In partnership with T.A. Buck Jr., Emma struggles to keep the T.A. Buck Featherloom Petticoat Company relevant, while her charismatic 21-year-old son takes the NY advertising world by storm. Jock's insistence that his business-savvy mother's methods are outdated leads to a crisis of confidence for Emma. But Jock's charm and ability to "sell ice to an Eskimo" land him in trouble.

In Edna Ferbers debut novel, Dawn O’Hara, the Girl Who Laughed, we meet Dawn, a weary newspaperwoman from New York who finds herself back in her Michigan hometown on the advice of her doctor. After years of living in boarding houses and supporting her brilliant yet mentally ill husband, Peter Orme, Dawn feels like a shadow of her former self at just twenty-eight. With the loving support of her sister Norah and the charming attentions of the handsome German doctor, Ernst Von Gerhard, she begins to reclaim her zest for life. Securing a newspaper job in Milwaukee opens the door to new ...

Fanny Herself tells the captivating story of Fanny Brandeis, a spirited young girl navigating the challenges of coming of age in the Midwest at the turn of the 20th century. This novel is widely believed to draw from the rich experiences of its author, Edna Ferber, who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin. Celebrated as one of the greatest American woman novelists of her time, Ferber earned the Pulitzer Prize in 1925 for her acclaimed work, So Big. She is also known for her masterpieces Showboat and Cimarron, both of which have seen successful adaptations for stage and screen. (summary by J. M. ...

First published in 1926, Show Boat weaves the rich tapestry of the Hawks-Ravenal family across three generations and the enchanting Cotton Blossom Floating Palace Theatre as it journeys along the Mississippi River and beyond. Spanning the Reconstruction Era of the 1880s to the vibrant Gilded Age and Roaring Twenties, this timeless tale has captivated audiences through its adaptation into a Broadway musical in 1927 and various film versions, including both a silent film and a partial talkie in 1929. Please note, the narrative contains themes of race, particularly anti-Black stereotypes and ...

Presented here is Volume III of our Feminist Literary Classics series, featuring three of the most important feminist novels ever written: Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf, O Pioneers! by Willa Cather and So Big by Edna Ferber. The first book in this collection is Orlando: A Biography, a groundbreaking English novel by Virginia Woolf that explores English history, gender roles and sexual politics in a way few books have before or since.

In this final book of Pulitzer Prize-winner Edna Ferber's series featuring the indomitable Emma McChesney, Emma's newly married son Jock has relocated to Chicago, leaving Emma an empty-nester. Her secret romance and pending nuptials stall when their company is thrown into an uproar at the height of the selling season. To defeat her long-time nemesis and take the T.A. Buck Featherloom Petticoat Company international, the always-competitive Emma sails off on a whirlwind tour of South America.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Edna Ferber created three wildly successful books featuring the business adventures of a dynamic, divorced single mother at the turn of the century. The first book in this classic series introduces listeners to the engaging, beautiful, and quick-talking Emma McChesney, traveling saleswoman for the T.A. Buck Featherloom Petticoat Company. Emma's 10 years on the road have taught her that living the Philosophy of Roast Beef, Medium allows her to avoid "moral pepsin" while meeting the challenges required to win in a man's world.

Selina sees beauty everywhere, including in the fields of cabbages. She has a natural curiosity about farming and oversteps the woman's traditional role by having the audacity to ask the men questions. She soon marries Pervus DeJong, a farmer. Selina eagerly offers suggestions for operational improvements, but Pervus ignores her, preferring to use the unprofitable farming methods employed by his father.

The story revolves around Fanny Brandeis, starting with her childhood in Winnebago, WI, where her parents run a shop. After Fanny's father dies, her mother Molly must make extremely difficult choices about Fanny's and her brother Theodore's educations. These choices set the course for the entire family throughout their lives. Rather than rely on dialogue to advance the plot, noted American author Edna Ferber is an exceptional storyteller who delights the listener with narrative. Fanny must decide whether to pursue wealth or follow her creative dreams.

After years of living in boarding houses and working to pay for the care of her mentally ill husband, Dawn O’Hara feels closer to fifty than twenty-eight—and on the edge of a mental breakdown. The stress of her life in the big city sends her to the doctor, who advises her to return to her small hometown in Michigan to recuperate. With help, Dawn is able to get a job as a newspaper reporter, meet people, and have a year’s worth of adventure. She is ready to start fresh, but with the memory of her husband, she fears she will never truly be free to love—or to be herself—again.

In the whimsical world of fairy tales, we often hear the phrase, they lived happily ever after. But what happens after the story ends? Once the enchantment fades and the glass slippers become worn, does the Prince ever find himself needing to remind Cinderella about her messy kitchen or her grammar? And after Puss in Boots has secured wealth and a bride for his master, does that gentleman not sometimes feel frustrated when neighbors refuse to acknowledge his lovely wife, born of humble beginnings? Buttered Side Down dares to explore these unanswered questions, offering a refreshing twist on ...

Ten classic public domain short stories offering a feminine perspective on work, written from 1868 to 1925 by an incredible lineup of authors. These works present an early and poignant perspective on the role of work in society and relationships and its effect on women.

So Big is author Edna Ferber's breakout, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of life on an American farm, which features the hardscrabble schoolteacher-turned-truck-farmer Selina Peake DeJong, one of the most iconic characters in 20th century fiction.

Menant une vie mi-ordinaire, mi-luxueuse auprès de son père, Selina Peak découvre la valeur de l’art et de la beauté à un très jeune âge. Déterminée, à peine diplômée, âgée de 19 ans et afin de devenir maîtresse d’école, Selina change d’horizon et emménage à High Prairie, une communauté hollandaise à quelques kilomètres de Chicago. Étant persuadée de la véracité des propos tenus par son père « la vie n’est qu’une grande aventure », Selina se jette dans l’inconnu ! Ce chemin pris, sera-t-il Si Grand ? Découvrez-le dans ce magnifique audiobook, Prix Pulitzer du roman 1925.