The Valiant Runaways

by Gertrude Atherton

Work from American novelist whose novels are often characterised by strong heroines who pursue independent lives.

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1898

About the author

Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton (October 30, 1857 – June 14, 1948) was a prominent and prolific American author. Many of her novels are set in her home state of California. Her bestseller Black Oxen (1923) was made into a silent movie of the same name. In addition to novels, she wrote short stories, essays, and articles for magazines and newspapers on such issues as feminism, politics, and war. She was strong-willed, independent-minded, and sometimes controversial.

She wrote using the pen names Asmodeus and Frank Lin, a play on her middle name.

Reviews

[Janelle]

I reached the half way mark of the second chapter. Until then it had seemed a typical historical YA novel of 100 years ago, interesting but fairly ordinary. However I stopped reading abruptly when a wild bear and a bull were corralled together for entertainment. Its inclusion in the plot probably indicates historical accuracy, but that doesn't mean I have to read it.

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Librivox recording entertained me while transplanting seedlings. The characters and story line did not appeal to me. However, the natural history descriptions of California were interesting and stopped me from the delete function on my iPod.