The Quack's Daughter

by Greta Nettleton

In 1884, the notorious Mrs. Dr. Rebecca J. Keck sent her daughter to Vassar to raise the family's social status; Cora Keck's unexpected educational opportunity opens a window to a turbulent era that greatly resembles our own. Raised in the gritty Mississippi River town of Davenport, Iowa, she could have walked straight out of a Susan Glaspell story, except everything in this amazing tale is true. In 2007, Cora's great-granddaughter discovered a trove of diaries and photos that reveal the inner life of a spirited heroine who ultimately faced a stark life and death crisis that would force her to re-examine her doubts about her mother's medical integrity.

Genres: Biography, History

356 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2012

About the author

Author, historian and great-granddaughter of the Victorian Vassar girl. Working on a bio of Mrs. Dr. Rebecca Keck and tumultuous early years of the medical profession.

Reviews

[Greta Nettleton]

I'm the author...what should i say? I am filling this in because I have to get my book off the "to read" shelf somehow!

[Amanda]

I enjoyed this book, though it wasn't quite what I was expecting based on the jacket description. Nettleton presents an interesting geneological study, intertwining her experience uncovering the college diaries and history of her great-grandmother, Cora Keck, with reconstructions of Cora's life based on her own writings. While the switches between narrative and epistolary style ocassionally disrupt the overall flow of the book, the story remains interesting, especially as a window into real Victorian life, and the many parallels with our own time.

In compliance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Violet]

Interesting to see how the girls at Vassar spent their free time. Staying out late when they should have been on campus and sneaking back in. I really liked the last chapter or two when here mother knew how to help her granddaughter get better.

[Roberta]

Greta Nettleton has accomplished something that I didn't expect: she kept me interested in reading a whole book about her family history. There was a lot of history in this book; about Vassar College going through some complicated changes and difficult financial times and about how different women's lives were in 1884. It even made me think twice (or maybe for the very first time) about Davenport, Iowa. But this book was in no way dry or boring. It reads like fiction. I ended up actually hoping that Ms Nettleton will write a book entirely about Cora's mother, Mrs. Dr. Rebecca J. Keck.

Note: Poughkeepsie's Hooker Avenue is named after prominent local citizen, James Hooker, NOT because large numbers of available Vassar girls are to be found strolling there.

[Meredith]

I received this book as part of a goodreads giveaway.

The Quack's Daughter was completely absorbing and interesting. It is about a girl named Cora who leaves her home to attend Vassar. She is the daughter of an extremely wealthy women, Dr. Mrs. Rebecca Keck who sold medicine all over to cure a variety of chronic diseases.

The author has obviously done extensive research and pieces together a wonderful story that shows how Cora and her friends growing up in the 19th century were not very different from women today. I loved all of the pictures that were included with the book.

Highly recommended.

Note to Ms. Nettleton: I'm sorry this review took so long to write. I was struggling to get through a different book that took all summer. I enjoyed your book. Thank you!

[Joyce M. Tice]

This book is excellent in portraying the places and activities of its characters. The author has made good use of the personal resources she had from her family artifacts and has supplemented them with extensive research to fill in the blanks and give structure to the story. She has interspersed excerpts from Cora's writings and mementos with explanations to confirm and develop them. She has accurately captured the world of her great grand mother and brought it to the present for us to enjoy.
I am envious of Ms. Nettleton's colorful ancestry. I have similar resources that I intend to develop as well, but my ancestors did not live such interesting or noteworthy lives as hers.

[Beth Miller]

Wonderful story plucked out of family memorabilia. Greta Nettleton shares as much of her ancestor's story as she can and pieces together a fascinating history of a college girl from Davenport, Iowa. I loved tracing the Cora Keck's steps in old Davenport and imagining myself back in time riding the train to Vassar College. How fortunate Ms. Nettleton is to have the family scrapbooks that tell this story.

[Rory Goff]

I really enjoyed this book! As an avid genealogist and delver into ancestors' memorabilia-trunks, as a descendant of brilliant but creatively-stifled Victorian women, as an Ivy League "easterner" and historical researcher and author now living in Iowa, and as a longtime practitioner of "alternative" healing techniques, I was deeply moved by all of these themes in Greta's book, and I recommend it highly.

[Rory Goff]

I really enjoyed this book! As an avid genealogist and delver into ancestors' memorabilia-trunks, as a descendant of brilliant but creatively-stifled Victorian women, as an Ivy League "easterner" and historical researcher and author now living in Iowa, and as a longtime practitioner of "alternative" healing techniques, I was deeply moved by all of these themes in Greta's book, and I recommend it highly.

[Mary Newcomb]

The Quack was Mrs Dr Keck, a self-styled doctor of the late 19th century. Her practice was centered in Davenport IA. This local color, made the book appealing to read. Unfortunately, while the book had some interesting tidbits about life at Vassar College in the the late 1880s it was confusing and short on information. It also seemed that conversations and intentions were constructed on a thin basis.

[Susan]

The author put this story together in seven years from diaries and historical facts of the late 1800's. This is well written, sharing the life of young women in this era. I enjoyed reading about Cora, young men, Vassar College and life during this period.

I recieved a copy from the author and Goodreads.

[Jill Hirsch]

I loved this book! The similarities between a mischievous Victorian college girl and a less-than-perfect modern college girl are striking. If Cora Keck and I had attended college at the same time, I have no doubt we would have been best of friends!

[june]

This is not a chick flick nor a beach read. I found it interesting and really enjoyed Cora. I would recommend this book to friends who want a good read with history thrown in.

[Kathryn]

I wasn't able to finish reading this book. I was disappointed since I had such high expectations that I would enjoy it.

[Andrea]

Interesting the way the author pieced together the ancestor's history. Good information on the time period and Vassar's history. Not an engaging read though.