Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and widely considered to be Edna Ferber's greatest achievement, So Big is a classic novel of turn-of-the-century Chicago.
Hailed as a novel "to read and remember" (New York Times), 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.
Left an orphan at nineteen years old in the late 1880s, Selina Peake needs to support herself. She becomes a teacher in the farming community of High Prairie, Illinois, and soon marries Pervus DeJong, a farmer. After Pervus's death, Selina takes over their struggling farm and raises their son, Dirk. Despite their hardships, she retains a deep appreciation for art and beauty and does her best to instill these values in Dirk, but will he recognize his mother's wisdom before he loses a chance at love?
First published in 1924, So Big is a brilliant literary masterwork from one of the twentieth century's most accomplished and admired writers, and still resonates today with its unflinching views of poverty, sexism, and the drive for success.
'The Homely Heroine' is a short story by American author Edna Ferber. It features a writer whose heroines are generally extremely beautiful. But one day, whilst she is out shopping, a shop-keeper asks her why she doesn’t write stories about a homelier heroine.
'The Homely Heroine' is followed by 'A Bush League Hero,' 'What she Wore,' and 'The Man Who Came Back.'
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Edna Ferber (1885-1968) was an American author. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and of Jewish descent, she suffered a lot from antisemitism, especially as a child, and was riddled with fear as she witness the Nazi Party party rise in Germany and gain followers across the Western world. Ferber won the Pulitzer Prize twice, in 1924 with her novel 'So Big' and in 1926 with 'Show Boat'. Furthermore, her novels 'Cimarron' (1930), 'Giant' (1952), 'Ice Palace' (1958) were each adapted to film. Her novels are remembered and celebrated for their strong female characters and their unique rendering of their American setting.
'The Dancing Girls, and Other Stories' contains four short-stories by two-times Pulitzer Prize winner Edna Ferber, written between 1910 and 1919. The title story paints a pictures of small-town America and of life 'on the other side of the tracks.' 'The Dancing Girls' is followed by 'Old Lady Mandle,' 'Long Distance,' and 'One Hundred Percent.'
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Edna Ferber (1885-1968) was an American author. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and of Jewish descent, she suffered a lot from antisemitism, especially as a child, and was riddled with fear as she witness the Nazi Party party rise in Germany and gain followers across the Western world. Ferber won the Pulitzer Prize twice, in 1924 with her novel 'So Big' and in 1926 with 'Show Boat'. Furthermore, her novels 'Cimarron' (1930), 'Giant' (1952), 'Ice Palace' (1958) were each adapted to film. Her novels are remembered and celebrated for their strong female characters and their unique rendering of their American setting.
Author Edna Ferber described the story of SO BIG as being about a 'material man, son of his earth-grubbing, idealistic mother.' Left an orphan at 19 years old in the late 1880s, Selina Peake needs to support herself. She leaves the city life she has known to become a teacher in the farming community of High Prairie, IL. Her father had told her that life is an adventure, and one should make the most of it.
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.
Though she suffers many hardships, Selina always remembers the importance of beauty, and she admires those who exercise their creative talents. She tries to instill these views in her son Dirk and fights with her husband over the need for their child to get a full education. Once Dirk finishes college and starts work, will he retain Selina's values?
SO BIG was the first book to have the rare distinction of being the best-selling book of the year and win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Who ever heard of a plain and downright homely heroine? Isn't a heroine by definition beautiful? Well, Edna Ferber, in her well known style that later produced Show Boat and Giant, tells us about just such a heroine in the first of these four special short stories. They are special to me because of their insight into the deep courage and faith of 'ordinary' people, people like most of us. And of course our failings and frailties and sometimes, the prince does not marry the right person. The other stories are A Bush League Hero, What she Wore and The Man Who Came Back. Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big (1924), Show Boat (1926; made into the celebrated 1927 musical), Cimarron (1929; made into the 1931 film which won the Academy Award for Best Picture), and Giant (1952; made into the 1956 Hollywood movie).
The Dancing Girls is just one of the 4 excellent short stories in this recording. All written by the master, Edna Ferber for magazines between 1910 and 1919 they naturally contain her unique mix of real people, sadness, joy and always humor. The lead Story, The Dancing Girls, is my favorite for the way she paints a picture of mid America small town society and how good people somehow (and sometimes) can find their way to each other. Other stories in this collection are Old Lady Mandel; Long Distance; and One Hundred Percent. Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big (1924), Show Boat (1926; made into the celebrated 1927 musical), Cimarron (1929; made into the 1931 film which won the Academy Award for Best Picture), and Giant (1952; made into the 1956 Hollywood movie).
Fanny Herself: A Passionate Instinct was originally published as a serialized story under the title Fanny Herself in The American Magazine from April to November 1917. Jewel Audiobooks is proud to present the first unabridged edition of this American classic!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.Although the book is now 100 years old, it contains lessons that are still valuable. Like many of us, Fanny must decide whether to pursue wealth or follow her creative dreams. Can she be happy, and will she find love?Author Edna Ferber won the Pultizer Prize for Novel in 1925 and may be best known for her book Show Boat, which was adapted into a successful and long-running musical.Look for the companion Kindle ebook containing all of M. Leone Bracker's beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations that accompanied the 1917 magazine series.
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