Ruth Hall : A Domestic Tale of the Present TIme

by Fern, Fanny; Belasco, Susan;

• ISBN13: 9780140436402
• ISBN10: 0140436405
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781101221648
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780140189520
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-02-01
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• More Book Details

Summary

In Ruth Hall, one of the bestselling novels of the 1850s, Fanny Fern drew heavily on her own experiences: the death of her first child and her beloved husband, a bitter estrangement from her family, and her struggle to make a living as a writer. Written as a series of short vignettes and snatches of overheard conversations, it is as unconventional in style as in substance and strikingly modern in its impact.

Author Biography

Fanny Fern was born Sara Willis in 1811. She was an American newspaper columnist, humorist, novelist, and author of children's books in the 1850s through the 1870s. Fern's popularity is attributed to her conversational style that struck a chord with her intellectual female readers. Some of her published works include Ruth Hall, Fanny Ford, Rose Clark, Little Fern's for Fanny's Little Friends, The Play-Day Book, and The New Story Book for Children. 

Susan Belasco is professor emerita of English and women’s studies at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She edited Margaret Fuller’s Summer on the Lakes and Fanny Fern’s Ruth Hall, and coedited several collections of essays and anthologies of American literature, including The Bedford Anthology of American Literature, Volumes I and II, and Leaves of Grass: The Sesquicentennial Essays.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xv	(32)
Susan Belasco Smith
Suggestions for Further Reading	xlvii	(2)
A Note on the Text	xlix
RUTH HALL	1	(272)
PREFACE To the Reader	1	(2)
CHAPTER 1 The Eve Before the Bridal--Ruth's Little Room--A Retrospective Reverie	3	(6)
CHAPTER II The Wedding--A Glimpse of the Character of Ruth's Brother Hyacinth	9	(1)
CHAPTER III The New Home--Soliloquy of the Mother-in-Law	10	(2)
CHAPTER IV The First Interview with the Mother-in-Law	12	(3)
CHAPTER V Ruth's Reflections on the Interview	15	(1)
CHAPTER VI A Bit of Family History	16	(3)
CHAPTER VII The First-born	19	(1)
CHAPTER VIII The Nurse	20	(2)
CHAPTER IX Further Developments of the Mother-in-Law's Character	22	(2)
CHAPTER X Ruth's Country Home	24	(2)
CHAPTER XI Ruth and Daisy	26	(1)
CHAPTER XII The Old Folks Follow the Young Couple--An Entertaining Dialogue	27	(2)
CHAPTER XIII The Old Lady's Surreptitious Visit to Ruth's, and Her Encounter with Dinah	29	(3)
CHAPTER XIV The Old Lady Searches the House--What She Finds	32	(3)
CHAPTER XV The Old Doctor Meddles with Harry's Farming Arrangements	35	(2)
CHAPTER XVI Little Daisy's Reverie--Her Strange Playfellow	37	(1)
CHAPTER XVII "Pat" Mutinies	38	(1)
CHAPTER XVIII A Growl from the Old Lady	39	(2)
CHAPTER XIX Daisy's Glee at the First Sleigh-ride	41	(1)
CHAPTER XX Daisy's Illness--The Old Doctor Refuses to Come	42	(3)
CHAPTER XXI Dinah's Warning--Harry Goes Again for the Doctor	45	(2)
CHAPTER XXII The Old Doctor Arrives Too Late	47	(3)
CHAPTER XXIII "The Glen" Deserted--The Old Doctor's and His Wife's Version of the Cause of Daisy's Death--Mrs. Jones Gives Her Opinion	50	(3)
CHAPTER XXIV Anniversary of Daisy's Death--Ruth's Reverie--Little Katy's Request	53	(2)
CHAPTER XXV Hotel Life--A New Friend	55	(3)
CHAPTER XXVI The Fall of the Leaf--Harry's Illness--The Lonely Watcher	58	(3)
CHAPTER XXVII Arrival of the Old Doctor and His Wife	61	(2)
CHAPTER XXVIII The Old Doctor's Announcement--Harry's Death	63	(3)
CHAPTER XXIX Hyacinth's Sensibilities Shocked	66	(3)
CHAPTER XXX Miss Skinlin	69	(4)
CHAPTER XXXI Harry's Funeral	73	(2)
CHAPTER XXXII A Servant's Devotion	75	(2)
CHAPTER XXXIII Bickerings of the Father and Father-in-Law--Dispute About the Support of the Children	77	(2)
CHAPTER XXXIV Ruth Receives a Visit from Her Father--He Insists on Her Giving Up Her Children to the Old Doctor--Ruth's Refusal	79	(3)
CHAPTER XXXV The Old Lady Enraged, Proposes a Compromise--Mr. Ellet Is Forced to Accede	82	(5)
CHAPTER XXXVI Ruth's New Lodgings--Speculations of the Boarders	87	(2)
CHAPTER XXXVII Mr. Develin's Counting-House--The Old Doctor's Letter	89	(3)
CHAPTER XXXVIII Little Katy Mourns for Her Papa	92	(2)
CHAPTER XXXIX Mr. Develin Demands Harry's Clothes of Ruth--The Wedding Vest	94	(2)
CHAPTER XL Ruth's Application for Needle-work	96	(3)
CHAPTER XLI Disgust of Ruth's Fashionable Friends	99	(2)
CHAPTER XLII Conversation in Mrs. Millet's Kitchen	101	(2)
CHAPTER XLIII Th Bouquet	103	(2)
CHAPTER XLIV Mrs. Millet and the Wooden Man	105	(2)
CHAPTER XLV Little Katy Visits Her Grandpa and Meets with a Characteristic Reception--The Strange Gentleman	107	(4)
CHAPTER XLVI A Peep from Ruth's Chamber Window--Katy's Return	111	(3)
CHAPTER XLVII Boarding-House Revolution--Mrs. Skiddy's Flight--Mr. Skiddy in the Capacity of Dry Nurse	114	(5)
CHAPTER XLVIII A New Idea--The Millets Exhibit Their Friendship and Delicacy	119	(3)
CHAPTER XLIX Ruth Resolves to Become a Teacher	122	(2)
CHAPTER L Ruth Applies for a Primary School	124	(2)
CHAPTER LI The Examination by the School Committee	126	(4)
CHAPTER LII Mrs. Skiddy's Unexpected Return	130	(4)
CHAPTER LIII Skiddy's Intercepted Hegira--His Incarceration--His Final Escape	134	(4)
CHAPTER LIV The Lunatic Asylum	138	(4)
CHAPTER LV Ruth's New Landlady	142	(3)
CHAPTER LVI The Strange Lodger--Ruth Resolves to Resort to Her Pen to Obtain a Subsistence--She Applies to her Brother Hyacinth for Advice and Assistance--His Characteristic Reply	145	(3)
CHAPTER LVII The Old Lady Resorts to Stratagem, and Carries Her Point	148	(3)
CHAPTER LVIII Mr. Ellet Exhibits His Usual Fatherly Interest in Ruth's Affairs	151	(3)
CHAPTER LIX Ruth Applies for Employment at Newspaper Offices	153	(3)
CHAPTER LX The Bread of Life	156	(2)
CHAPTER LXI A Chapter Which May Be Instructive	158	(2)
CHAPTER LXII Ruth Obtain Employment--Illness of Nettie--The Strange Lodger Proves Useful	160	(4)
CHAPTER LXIII A Peep into the Old Doctor's Cottage	164	(3)
CHAPTER LXIV A Glimpse of Coming Success	167	(5)
CHAPTER LXV Little Nettie's Sorrows--Cheering Letters	172	(4)
CHAPTER LXVI Katy's First Day at School--The Town-Pump Controversy--Cruelty of Katy's Grandparents	176	(4)
CHAPTER LXVII Mr. John Walter	180	(3)
CHAPTER LXVIII A Letter from Mr. Walter, and Its Effect	18	(4)
CHAPTER LXIX Ruth Engages to Write Solel for the Household Messenger	187	(2)
CHAPTER LXX What Mr. Lescom Said	189	(4)
CHAPTER LXXI A Sharp Correspondence	193	(4)
CHAPTER LXXII Offers of Marriage and Offers to Publish	197	(4)
CHAPTER LXXIII What Mr. Tibbetts Said About Ruth's Writing for the Household Messenger	201	(3)
CHAPTER LXXIV Soliloquy of a Sub-Editor	204	(5)
CHAPTER LXXV Mr. Walter's Visit	209	(6)
CHAPTER LXXVI The Phrenological Examination	215	(8)
CHAPTER LXXVII Publication Day Comes at Last	223	(3)
CHAPTER LXXVIII Hyacinth Cornered	226	(3)
CHAPTER LXXIX Mr. Lewis Enlightened	229	(3)
CHAPTER LXXX More Letters	232	(4)
CHAPTER LXXXI Freshet in the Doctor's Cellar--"Hams" in Danger of a Total Wreck--Sudden Appearance of Ruth--Rescue of Little Katy	236	(4)
CHAPTER LXXXII Arrival of Katy with Her Mother, Mr. Walter, and Mr. Grey, at New Lodgings; Dinner and Letters--Conversations Between the Children	240	(9)
CHAPTER LXXXIII The Little Family Alone at Their New Quarters--Nettie in the Confession Box--Katy's Mirth	249	(4)
CHAPTER LXXXIV Raty and Nettle Notes--Ruth Dreams--Midnight Conflagration--Rescue of the Little Family by Johnny Galt	253	(4)
CHAPTER LXXXV Tea-Table Talk Between "The Wooden Man" and His Spouse--Letter from "Our John"	257	(3)
CHAPTER LXXXVI The Old Lady Extinguished in a Conversation with Her Neighbors, Who Announce the Astonishing Fact That "Floy" Is Ruth	260	(4)
CHAPTER LXXXVII Conversation Between Ruth's Father and Mr. Jones Regarding Ruth's Literary Debut	264	(2)
CHAPTER LXXXVIII Interview Between the Literary Bookseller and Mr. Walter	266	(2)
CHAPTER LXXXIX Arrival of Mr. Walter--Bank Stock and Bank Certificate	268	(3)
CHAPTER XC The Last Visit to Harry's Grave	271	(2)
Explanatory Notes	273