The Angry Wife: A Novel

by Pearl S. Buck

A novel of a Southern woman trapped in the past and two brothers divided by the Civil War, from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Good Earth.
 

Lucinda Delaney is a southern belle ruled by a vision of life that no longer exists. The Civil War has come and gone and her side has lost, yet she is determined to proceed as if nothing has changed—a denial that stokes the flames of her irrational angers. Despite her returned husband’s devotion, Lucinda is sure he is having an affair with one of their slaves. After all, his Union-sympathizing brother, Tom, did just that, scandalously running away with the woman and settling into contented family life in Philadelphia. Over the years, her racist feelings and fears only intensify, and when it’s time for her own daughter to marry, her chief concern is the color of the children.

 

The Angry Wife is a memorable and impassioned dissection of prejudice, as well as a riveting portrait of post­–Civil War America.

 

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author’s estate.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Civil War, Classics, Historical, American, Literature

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker Buck was an American writer and novelist. She is best known for The Good Earth, the best-selling novel in the United States in 1931 and 1932 and which won her the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. In 1938, Buck became the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China" and for her "masterpieces", two memoir-biographies of her missionary parents.
Buck was born in West Virginia, but in October 1892, her parents took their 4-month-old baby to China. As the daughter of missionaries and later as a missionary herself, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in Zhenjiang, with her parents, and in Nanjing, with her first husband. She and her parents spent their summers in a villa in Kuling, Mount Lu, Jiujiang, and it was during this annual pilgrimage that the young girl decided to become a writer. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia, then returned to China. From 1914 to 1932, after marrying John Lossing Buck she served as a Presbyterian missionary, but she came to doubt the need for foreign missions. Her views became controversial during the Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy, leading to her resignation. After returning to the United States in 1935, she married the publisher Richard J. Walsh and continued writing prolifically. She became an activist and prominent advocate of the rights of women and racial equality, and wrote widely on Chinese and Asian cultures, becoming particularly well known for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption.

Reviews

[Michele Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read books about the times of American slavery, and learned in school about the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery, but I have not read about, or even thought too much about the time period where the war is over and everyone goes home. Say you owned slaves, what does your life look like? Say you were a slave, what does your life look like? This books gives a glimpse into that transition period by showing us the different viewpoints of its characters over their lifetime after the war is over. Very interesting.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book. I might have enjoyed it as much as I did because I started it with such low expectations, almost begrudgingly, almost forcing myself to pick it up before I continue my recent spate of devouring and indulging in contemporary novels. I thought it would be difficult to re-adjust to reading a classic, to have to try to relate to something so far in the past and clearly not relevant.

Luckily I was wrong. I dove right in from the beginning, as the characters and the themes and the plot are all timeless and universal, because they are so insightfully written.

Aging alongside the book's protagonist, Pierce, was both agonizing and reaffirming. The way he develops and grows is so convincing, but excruciating in its honesty. I've learned that Buck published this book when she was 49 years old, which makes sense to me. She clearly understands what aging and introspection and self-development entails. Pierce is so completely sympathetic and convincing as a whole human being, even when you disagree with his specific thoughts and actions. Finishing the book, and savoring the sum of Pierce's lifetime - his combined acts of heroism, mistakes, bad judgments, loyalty, valor, determination, love - was wholly satisfying and almost spiritual.

A sequel novel showing this lifetime from the mean, bitchy cold-fish-wife's perspective would be equally illuminating I imagine. I wish Buck were around it write it.

I wonder why Buck decided to publish this, among others, under her "John Sedges" pseudonym, considering that she was already a famed, successful, Pulitzer-winning author by then.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It gave insight on the post civil war era. We learn the thinking patterns that were probably common in the time. I love that the book follows a man all his life, how he grows and learns and changes his own ideas. Unfortunately, all of those around him do not change with him, but he chooses to love them anyway.

[Victoria Evangelina Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare mix of a quiet, and seemingly non-interesting life set in a time of social change, written with the mastery and deep psychological insight that did not allow me to put the book down for longer, than it was absolutely needed.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearl S. Buck sure could write! She grasped the prejudice against blacks of most of the people in the US for many decades after the end of the Civil War. "The angry wife" was terrified that she would be supplanted by a particular former slave, Georgia. Moreover, she and her kind were afraid they would be supplanted by black women and no longer be able to have white husbands. Buck explored how some people were able to see the former slaves as human beings with the same rights as themselves, while others could not. We sadly still face many of the same issues today, over 150 years after the Civil War.

[Eileen E Cartwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I never knew, before I discovered this book, that Pearl Buck wrote about anything but China - certainly not the American south after the Civil War. Her take on relations between blacks and whites is interesting. She brings out how terribly difficult things must have been. Also, I confess I knew nothing about the railroad strike of 1877. Here she begins to delve into workers vs rich corporate owners and the beginnings of unions. I was not crazy about the last third or so of the book but all in all it was an interesting read.

[Freesiab BookishReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of the Gilded age. A story about Northern and Southern tensions in one family after the civil war. Great characters, well written. The ending could have been more satisfying.

[M. Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long been a Pearl S. Buck fan and have read all of her books about China. This was a departure from her usual genre and every bit as compelling. Written in 1947, it centers around the Delaney family in West Virginia. Pierce Delaney has returned from the Civil War, emotionally damaged in some respects, but finding his estate relatively unharmed and his entitled young wife waiting to resume her life of privilege. His brother, who fought for the Union instead of the Confederacy, also returns in poor physical shape after being a prisoner of war. The book explores the changes brought by the abolition of slavery as well as race and class conflicts, as their family grows and changes through the decades. It moves into the "Long Depression" a worldwide price and economic recession, beginning in 1873 which brought the country into poverty and turmoil as the Labor movement formed and socialism inspired the working class. Buck's writing transcends history with lines that really stood out to me relating to women's feelings toward men and the long lasting effects of war on men's thoughts and behavior. Not sure "The Angry Wife" was the most descriptive title, perhaps The Entitled Wife would be better - however she was angry and much of it was felt towards her own husband. This is a multi-generational family saga to be savored!

[Jackie Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should be required reading in schools. After reading this, it is dscouraging that today our nation is still struggling with discrimination and hateful attitudes towards African Americans.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Pearl Buck and so far I haven't found a book by her that I didn't like. She is first and foremost a great storyteller. I was surprised at the setting of this book because it's West Virginia right after the Civil War and focuses on one family's story from various points of view. The hero is an old Rebel plantation owner and it's unusual because he's alive and well and fairly solvent which is just not what you're expecting from the post-war deep south. And the slaves on his plantation are all freed but mostly still in his employ as workers for pay. His wife is having a hard time adjusting to the change (thus the title) and his brother, a wounded war vet who fought for the North has his own troubles to deal with. All in all a very interesting story and covering ground that's not been covered before (at least to my knowledge).

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised when I started reading The Angry Wife, that Pearl Buck wrote about anything other than China. The book that I was familiar with was The Good Earth, which I had read in high school and was aware that Buck had won the Nobel prize as well as the Pulitzer prize. My delight to happen upon this gem. It has sparked a craving for more of her work.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is free for KindleUnlimited so I snagged it late one night when I saw the pretty cover and Pearl S Buck's name! I've read The Good Earth and Pavilion of Women (which is one of my all-time faves) so I'm used to Buck's style.

This one, of course, surprised me a bit as it's set in WV immediately after the Civil War. Quite a departure from China!

And it was really intriguing--reconstruction after the Civil War and specifically the reconstruction of this family's home and...family. This book was written in 1947 and obviously Buck wasn't alive during the Civil War but her parents were born in the 1850's and lived in WV so there would have been something personal about this for her. Maybe stories she knew of her own family? Maybe attitudes and worldviews?

Anyway, I almost set it down once because it felt a little slow but kept with it and I'm glad I continued to get to know the characters. I really liked them all--even the angry wife. I saw some reviews that the title of this book wasn't the best b/c the book is really about the husband. But, I think his wife was the motivation for all, even when he didn't think it was. I loved his thoughts about her and his marriage as they enter old age.

This book was full of heartbreak and hard things but I liked it. And I love Pearl S Buck's style and voice.

[Jean DeGarmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magnificent novel! So interesting— the post civil war issues. I absolutely love the main character, Pierce, and his deep devotion to his home (southern estate) and to his family. When he returns from the war, he faces personal and social obstacles, which he fights at first, but decides to accept with dignity. I particularly enjoy how he thinks of and interacts with his wife, Lucinda. Highly recommend🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[J. Lee Hazlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The way the protagonist reacts to and deals with life and social change in the decades following the American Civil War feels very realistic. This story is a great reminder that you can cherish (and even live in) the past without trying to hold back the future.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buck sure knows how to leap from comfort to great complexity of ideas. Though issues in this book are pondered in her others. With this book she moves it all to post-War Between the States. She's structured the plot and story to explore her views of race, the South, America and the Civil War. She does this all very well by creating an epic story of a family.

The examination of the family unfolded is accomplished extremely well. Buck vastly complicates the tale by pulling the family apart in a particularly difficult way that leads to Buck having to move characters around in all sorts of directions. She does all of this very clearly and leaves the reader intrigued to move the pages. Excellent writing and plotting.

The characters are well written and distinctly different. Something hard to do in a book that includes so many children. Many, many books have broods of kiddies, but Buck includes the same and makes each interesting and separate from another.

A note about the time I wrote this: Today's (Not long ago or time to come) American population is extremely ignorant to the time period that is the basis of the book. Points of history presented in the book, once taught in public school,today is almost entirely not taught or mis-taught. Some might read this and react emotionally without the knowledge of what Buck is writing about. Certainly Buck took extreme melodramatic license to create the book and never intended for readers to believe the families in this book were representative of all in the South or the North. Buck's goal was to complete a book that could be sold and read. Not sculpt factual history.

I think the only draw back to the book is, while trying to string so many characters together, Buck dropped the ball in some consistency and leaving some holes in the story never filled. Tiny stuff when paired with the whole. Also, the title is silly.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of 10 points.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book because Peal S, Buck's The Good Earth is one of my favorite books ever and have not read any of her other works. Needless to say, it will not rank up there with The Good Earth for me. I do love historical fiction books and was excited to read more about the civil war. Well, there wasn't much about the war in this book, but it did deal with the aftermath. I found it a little unbelievable how easy it seemed for Tom to enter into a bi-racial marriage. It does show how his family dealt with it but I feel like it didn't touch on society well enough. I feel like society would have been harder on them - Tom not being accepted by the black community and his wife not being accepted by the white community. It did give me thought to how hard the transition must had been for slaves to be slaves one day and the free the next. The book alludes to the fact that it would had been better if their freedom came incrementally rather than all at one. Interesting thoughts and insights into how that transition was a challenge for all involved and the aftermath.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

One would think, after my many years of reading, that I would have learned not to begin the works of an author with his/her masterpiece. Everything thereafter, no matter how good, will be anticlimactic. This has been my experience with Pearl Buck -- after The Good Earth, I have sought out her other books and, while I liked them quite a bit, I can't help making the comparison.

The Angry Wife takes place in West Virginia, at and after the end of the Civil War.The only similarities to The Good Earth were the themes of the love for the land and the duty and honor of the patriarch.

The early chapters struck me as almost "romance-y," but as the scope expanded it became much more, and it was interesting to watch the characters adapt to a new world (with the exception of Lucinda, The Angry Wife herself, who refused to acknowledge any change).

Had I not read The Good Earth, I would probably have rated this one higher than three stars.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel had such potential but just did not deliver. Like some of Buck’s novels, this one read more like a first draft than a literary masterpiece. While there are some really incredible hints at pushing boundaries in terms of race (particularly in the south during Reconstruction), Buck never fully dives in to the nuances. As a result, the novel keeps a white southern mentality at its center without delving into the more interesting characters and plot lines that could have been revelatory and paradigm-shifting. Perhaps it was the era in which she was writing (1947 is the novel’s pub date), but I really wish she had taken more risks in this one.

[SaraB · Rating 2 out of 5]

The good: the life on the plantation, some psychological aspects, the writing.

The bad: oh well. The utter selfishness of even the most progressive characters, who are only so out of interest. The blame on women/Lucinda when her men are no better. The view of black and females. The horrible family relationships. The cowardly man blaming the world. The masochistic Mary Sue.

Pearl please go back to China, that's where you shine.

And ladies, if you have no reason to think he cheats excepts 'his brother did', please don't push him awa (for better or for worse, remembered that this one never crosses the line but has some very unpleasant convos)

[HalKid2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although prolific, Nobel-Prize-winning-author Pearl S. Buck is best known for her novels about China, this one is focused on the U.S. in the years following the American Civil War. It’s an interesting take on the South, racism, and 19th century industrial development — but felt disjointed, as though it couldn’t quite figure what it was about.

Southern brothers Pierce and Tom wind up fighting on opposite sides of the Civil War –Tom for the North, Pierce for the South. When they return to their West Virginia plantation after the war, they begin to discover all the ways life has changed.

Pierce’s wife Lucinda, who has been in charge during the war years, now finds she must again make room for a husband. But more significantly, she is desperate to hang onto the privilege of her accustomed way of life and deeply resentful about the loss of her “slaves”. Then there’s Tom, who, having suffered brutal imprisonment, promptly falls in love with the mulatto servant who nurses him back to health. And so begins a deep family rift.

I won’t disclose more plot details (no spoilers), but as the novel follows these characters through the next couple of generations, readers watch the impact of the jarring changes happening in America during the last decades of the 19th century:
• Paid workers, replacing slaves, make farming large plantations more expensive and more difficult.
• Rapid industrialization, especially the expansion of railroads, changes where BIG money was made.
• A long economic depression in the 1870s, with resulting labor unrest and strikes (some of which are blamed on the new theories of Karl Marx) forever alters relations between workers and management.
• And, most interesting to me, just how did the Civil War change racial attitudes among both white and black citizens?

Through the stories of Tom and Pierce, we watch the unfolding of their different paths. Ultimately, one’s decisions lead him to be more anchored in the agrarian past; the other’s guide him toward a life more in keeping with an increasingly industrialized and more equitable society.

I have no idea why this book is titled THE ANGRY WIFE, which refers to Lucinda, Pierce’s wife. Yes, she's angry. But the story is much more about Pierce himself — part of the generation that lost the Civil War, people who were then forced to reexamine, reevaluate, and, in some cases, redefine big life concepts like success, family, friendship, love, and fulfillment.

As mentioned earlier, my biggest criticism of the book is how disjointed it felt. At the start it felt like it WAS going to center on Lucinda. But then it shifted to more of a Tom and Pierce narrative. And then toward the end, much more about Pierce alone. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more this turbulent period in American history.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book for me to read after The Keepers of the House because it continues along the same vein of racial prejudices, although the timing of this book was different because takes place immediately after the Civil War ends. It was published in the early 50’s, so 15 years or so before Keepers. I do enjoy older fiction.

The title is The Angry Wife, but the wife (Lucinda) isn’t the main character. I appreciated that, because in all honesty, she was a nasty person. The book is much more about the impact of Lucinda’s attitudes on those in her life, most especially her family. Small minded & controlling, it was fairly amazing how much havoc one person could wreak on the personal relationships of others.

It was interesting to note how Pierce (Lucinda’s husband) changed over the course of his life as far as his convictions about race went, while Lucinda’s remained so consistent. I wouldn’t say Pierce could ever be viewed as progressive, but at least his mind wasn’t closed. Georgia & Bettina were great characters with such depth & dignity. Ironically so much more than “higher class” Lucinda.

Set in West Virginia, I loved reading about the area & Pierce’s development of Malvern, the family estate. I wish it was a real place I could visit. Glad I read this book!

[Martha Alami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearl S. Buck is one of my favorite authors. Most of her works I have read are about China, Korea and Japan. She spent most of her life in China as the daughter of missionaries. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel that takes place during the two to three decades following the U.S. Civil War. She captured the life of the plantation owners, the plight of the slaves after gaining freedom and the overall societal views of the time where diversity and acceptance are not part of the vocabulary. The theme of lighter skinned, mixed race slaves not fitting in anywhere is so well explored thru sisters Georgia and Bettina. Pierce, the owner of the plantation, knows there is truly something different about them and has his own attraction to Georgia. Tom, Pierce’s brother, falls in love with Bettina, goes to Philadelphia with her and makes her his wife. He feels that made the war worthwhile, to be able to love and be with Bettina. But Lucinda, who is the angry wife, demonstrates all the characteristics of the Southern belle who will never accept anything different and wants to go back to the way it was before the war. The story is beautifully written, the characters well defined and the themes masterfully woven together. I completely enjoyed reading this novel.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not a fan of The Good Earth, I enjoy most of Pearl S. Buck's writings. I find them to be excellent references on tough-to-tackle topics, whether in the era of the story, or the time she wrote the story, and often a still tough-to-tackle today issue.

This is the story of two brothers after the Civil War; one fought for the North and the other for the South, as often happened in certain parts of the country in the 1860s. The defeated Southern brother Pierce returns to his farm in the newly formed state of WV, and he wants two things: to turn his farm into a profitable enterprise and to get his brother (Tom) released from the Southern prison. During Tom's recovery at the farm, he falls in love with his nurse, former slave Bettina.

Both brothers follow their hearts over the next 50 years, Pierce in creating the farm and home he wanted and Tom in marrying the woman he loved. But their wives, the mothers of their children, are both points of joy and contention during their era and in what they silently demand.

The layered nuances of the story, from the tolerance and acceptance of interracial relationships and marriages to the temptations of infidelity to the raging labor disputes of the time--both railroad and coal mining; to the values of what is important in life, are still issues we us today.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearl Buck has crafted a moving novel about a flawed, ordinary yet wealthy family in the years immediately after the civil war. The wife, Lucinda, expects little to change as she will continue to be Mistress of the Manor. She recognizes that the family can no longer buy and sell slaves, but that is her single concession to a changing world. Her husband is more conflicted but continues the life of a wealthy Southern plantation owner and railroad baron, focusing more on accumulation for this family than anything else. The title of the book is important since it illustrates that those who fight the future may win some battles, but they are never truly happy.

The other character from children, siblings, friends to servants round out the numerous ways the post war world is changing and the white male patriarchy is not absolute. Ms. Buck died over fifty years ago yet racial divides and each person's place in American society is still hotly contested, with certain groups attempting to exert their will over everyone else. Greed and self-interest still prevail and "winning" has replaced contentment. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

[Jean Carlton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A departure from Buck's more familiar writing about China, I found the portrayal of relationships between the many characters interesting and well written. Pierce, the husband of the 'angry wife', is really the main character so the title does not satisfy me but their marriage was interesting to read about and Lucinda was a powerfully drawn character. She never changed; he did. What life might have been like after the Civil War for a variety of people is not something I've read much about. Themes of racism, class, family feuds, as well as commerce, history of the railroads, and more.

"She would not allow Pierce to change her life. She belonged to the South and in her the South would live forever. She would keep it alive."

"Like most women she kept on talking after she had really finished everything she had to say."

..."I, Pierce said quietly, " consider it the height of realism and self-interest for the rich to be generous to the poor. There is a point...where it is good business to keep workingmen alive."

[Tessyohnka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some reviewers here start by asking why the book is titled “The Angry Wife” when the book makes Pierce the pivotal character. I would say that it has everything to do with a part of slavery that is often overlooked. That is the all too common occurrence of the master involving himself sexually with one or more of his slave women while the mistress is meant to accept it or turn a blind eye to it. What a hideous situation (on every level) and what wife wouldn’t be angry? Lucinda came to her marriage knowing that her father had sexual relations with his female slaves and likely suspecting that her husband would as well. The only consolation was that she wouldn’t lose her husband to a slave as she might to a white mistress, which is why Tom’s behavior appalled Lucinda. As Tom accuses: “As long as there are women like you, Lucinda,” he drawled, restraining his fury, “there will be no justice on this earth. You will keep your foot on the neck of any woman who threatens your sacred position in the home.” Buck examines this topic with anthropological insight and splendid prose.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearl Buck's simply elegant prose and her psychological insights into her characters are amazing. The Angry Wife is set just after the Civil War, where part of Virginia becomes West Virginia and when masters and slaves are adjusting to freedom. Pierce Delaney comes home from the war, having fought for the South, changed and willing to change, to a wife who seemingly cannot comprehend the change. Tensions escalate when Pierce's brother Tom, who fought for the North and survived Andersonville, returns home to complete his recovery and marries one of the mixed-raced servants brought into the house during his absence. How those complications play out makes for a fascinating but at times heart-wrenching read. BTW, I chose this book for a second reading challenge for a book published the year I was born.

[Paul Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much heart

There is so much keen understanding in Ms Buck’s writing. I’m always surprised by the strong and progressive beliefs she weaves into her stories, without the least sense of hectoring. I feel she was a very fine person. Nonetheless, it is her love of story that carries her books most strongly and she is an engrossing storyteller. I read the Chinese trilogy in back to back sittings utterly immersed.
In this book Ms Buck shows she understands men, her compassionate writing extends even to us faulted beings.
I love intelligent and sensitive writers and I’m going to have a mini binge on Pearl Buck novels now. Her gentle and wise sensibility is just what I feel like. In a world where wisdom and kindness appear a little scarce it’s great to dive into stories such as these.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simply written book that I first thought might be just too shallow to read. But soon I realized that the messages in this story, not the writing style, are the meat of the book; and to truly see them, the book must be read to the finish. Life lessons and so much to think about. I was amazed to be reminded of the violent turmoil in so many aspects of our country and to learn about all the fear of and fighting against globalism and socialism and communism all going on even back in the late in the 1800’s. History repeats itself. Some things never change, yet change is inevitable Some is for the good, and some is for the worse. Some things never change. Yet change is inevitable; and the fight, both physical and philosophical, this all engenders is ageless. I am left thinking deeply on so many levels yet somehow comforted in my own old age.

[Debbie Shoulders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pierce Delaney is one of the fortunate ones. He returns from the War Between the States safely with his home intact and because it was in the western part of Virginia, he is seen as part of the "winning" side. His wife Lucinda expects him to make the plantation great again and carry on with her life as before. But when Pierce's brother Tom returns from Andersonville Prison, having chosen to fight for the North, he sees the new world as different and falls in love with their former slave, now servant, Bettina. Unwilling to relegate her to the world of mistress, they move.

Buck shares the lengths a man is willing to go to preserve tradition and what he is willing to ultimately lose for those he loves. She also highlights the time after the war and how racism is still intact despite the freeing of the slaves.