Frances Waldeaux: A Novel

by Rebecca Harding Davis

Other works by this American author and journalist include Magret Howth and A Law Unto Herself

Paperback

First published January 1, 1897

About the author

Rebecca Blaine Harding Davis (born Rebecca Blaine Harding) was an American author and journalist. She is deemed a pioneer of literary realism in American literature. She graduated valedictorian from Washington Female Seminary in Pennsylvania. Her most important literary work is the novella Life in the Iron Mills, published in the April 1861 edition of the Atlantic Monthly which quickly made her an established female writer. Throughout her lifetime, Davis sought to effect social change for blacks, women, Native Americans, immigrants, and the working class, by intentionally writing about the plight of these marginalized groups in the 19th century.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Marilyn Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this glimpse into late-19th century relationships between men and women, and expectations of both in negotiating marriage or freedom. I find one can't go wrong with Rebecca Harding Davis' books.

8/16/25 - re-read - a bit cheesy towards the end; and rather frightening how much money, heiresses, and penniless good-for nothings abounded in the late 1800s. Still, Rebecca Harding Davis was a skilled and engaging author.

[Peter McGinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of this book. Its style and tone reminds me of classic authors like Austen and Trollope, but the writing is more succinct. You will not encounter paragraphs of descriptions that cover an entire page and slow the pace of the story. I liked the characters an the plot enough to care what happened to them and it is a fairly short book, so I progressed quickly in it.

Ultimately, however, I became less satisfied with where the story was headed. This was due partly to one plot twist I could see coming a mile away. And partly to a few huge coincidences that were used by the author to get there. But to be fair, I write novels myself so I think I am used to weighing up plot options and deciding which ones are most likely. Also, even with with the predictable event I saw coming, the author added a small twist to it that was a nice surprise.

So I recommend this book as a pleasant read, especially if you want to dip your toe into classic fiction without fear of drowning in paragraphs that last a page or more. And of course if read books electronically and you're trying to keep to a strict budget in your reading, the price of the book on Gutenberg.org is right.