The Friendly Persuasion

A quintessential American heroine, Eliza Birdwell is a wonderful blend of would-be austerity, practicality, and gentle humor when it comes to keeping her faith and caring for her family and community. Her husband, Jess, shares Eliza's love of people and peaceful ways but, unlike Eliza, also displays a fondness for a fast horse and a lively tune. With their children, they must negotiate their way through a world that constantly confronts them-sometimes with candor, sometimes with violence-and tests the strength of their beliefs. Whether it's a gift parcel arriving on their doorstep or Confederate soldiers approaching their land, the Birdwells embrace life with emotion, conviction, and a love for one another that seems to conquer all. The Friendly Persuasion has charmed generations of readers as one of our classic tales of the American Midwest.

Jessamyn West (1902-1984) was born in Indiana to Quaker parents and lived most of her life in California. Her work has appeared in Harper's, Mademoiselle, Kenyon Review, the New Yorker, and Redbook, among others. Her other books include The State of Stony Lonesome, Massacre at Fall Creek, and The Collected Stories of Jessamyn West.