Elsie's Womanhood

Elsie Dinsmore #4

by Martha Finley

It is a time for celebration as Elsie prepares to marry her beloved Edward. Following their wedding, the happy couple honeymoon at Viamede, childhood home of Elsie's mother in the Bayou region of Louisiana. Here Elsie's faith matures, and she learns to share her beliefs with others in a meaningful way.

Four children--Elsie, Edward, Violet, and Harold--are born to Elsie and Edward, who experience the joys and heart-aches of parenthood. Meanwhile, the country teeters on the brink of civil war. Mindful of the tragedies unfolding around her, Elsie is touched by the painful divisions brought on by the War Between the States and the devastating loss of family and friends that accompanies it.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Classics, Christian, Childrens, Historical

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Martha Finley was a teacher and author of numerous works, the most well known being the 28 volume Elsie Dinsmore series which was published over a span of 38 years. Finley wrote many of her books under the pseudonym Martha Farquharson.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_F... or, http://marthafinley.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Lana Del Slay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elsie's Womanhood
Martha Finley
1875

NUTSHELL: I can't rate this! It's so bad it's awesome!

Elsie, Elsie, Elsie.

I've given up on taking anything Martha Finley wrote seriously. Instead, I will deliver up the choicest bits, which you can discover for yourself (and many more!) at Project Gutenberg.

"Travilla; after years of patient waiting he has won her at last—our darling—and—and I've given her to him."

Travilla is Elsie's father's friend. They're roughly the same age. This would explain why "Elsie's Widowhood" comes before "Grandmother Elsie" in the series, wouldn't it?

Also, Elsie's maybe twenty-one here. Man, I hope those years of patient waiting weren't very long...

Of course, everyone in the book has to weigh in on Elsie and Travilla's age difference. At last, she says this, with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Some people seem like wine—to improve with age [. . . ]."

As well as this:

"I would not have him a day younger, except that he would like to be nearer my age, or different in any way from what he is[.]"

Some of my favorite lines belong to Aunt Wealthy Stanhope (misidentified in one review as "Elsie's wealthy Aunt Stanhope" -- well, no, not exactly.) "The doctor's as busy as ever, killing people all round the country; he's very successful at it" made me wonder if the doctor in question was a nineteenth-century Kevorkian. "Ah, funerals are almost as sad as weddings. I don't know how people can ever feel like dancing at them" also gave me a chuckle. I think I'd like dancing at my funeral, thanks very much!

I only wish this were half as interesting as it sounded:

They were alone in Elsie's boudoir, but when an hour had slipped rapidly away there came a message from Mr. Dinsmore to the effect that their company would be very acceptable in the library.

Poor Travilla. I mean, obviously he'd have liked more than one hour.

The true romance of this series to date has been, as readers will know, between Elsie and her father. To wit:

"Well, dearest," he said, after a moment, in which he held her very close and caressed her with exceeding tenderness, "we shall not be far apart or miss passing some time together many days of the year. And you are not in haste to leave me?"

And upon arrival at Elsie's property in New Orleans, Viamede:

"Yes, sir. Papa dear, welcome, welcome to my house; the dearest guest that could come to it." And wiping away her tears, she lifted her loving eyes to his, a tender smile playing about the sweet lips.

"Save one," he answered half-playfully, passing his hand caressingly over her hair, and bending down to press his lips on brow, and cheeks, and mouth. "Is not that so?"

Oh, but I'm saving the best for her wedding day.

"My darling!" murmured the father, in low, half tremulous accents, putting his arm about the slender waist, "my beautiful darling! how can I give you to another?" and again and again his lips were pressed to hers in long, passionate kisses.

Uh. Yeah. Now you know why I can ship Elsie/Travilla without getting groomer vibes off the latter: he's positively sane compared to Daddy Dearest. (Aside: Daddy/Daughter kink for the steam age? You decide! Elsie's totally submissive to everything in pants, so it ain't that farfetched...)

Elsie's still wearing an awful lot of white throughout and even after her honeymoon. Most of me thinks, yeah, she looked good in white, but part of me wonders if Elsie would've taken intimacy as slowly as falling in love! Imagine what a shock sex might've been, if the longest kisses she's shared so far have been with her father. (For sanity's sake, please imagine it that way, in fact.)

At this point, I imagine Elsie was quite disappointed:

"Hush, hush!" he said flushing, "I meant to have that left out; and did I not tell you you were to have your own way that night and ever after? You've already done enough of obeying to last you a lifetime. But please come round where I can see you better." Then, as she stepped to his side, he threw an arm about her and drew her to his knee.

"But it wasn't left out," she said, shyly returning his fond caress; "I promised and must keep my word."

"Ah, but if you can't, you can't; how will you obey when you get no orders?"

"So you don't mean to give me any?"

"No, indeed; I'm your husband, your friend, your protector, your lover, but not your master."

Shoot, I would be. But Edward Travilla is quite vanilla, as Aunt Wealthy says at one point. He positively insists on equality between them:

"Does it satisfy you, my little wife?" he asked, in tones that spoke intense enjoyment of her pleasure.

Good lord, he's saying that in front of his mom.

Somehow, about eleven months after the wedding, Elsie's got an infant in her room. Graphic accounts of gunshot wounds? Totally cool by Mrs. Finley. Pregnancy? Eeek! Going on the baby's age, she must have been conceived in short order. So all that wearing of white was a style choice. Neat.

Finley has been foreshadowing the Civil War throughout, quite subtly, I find; this passage exemplifies her skill at it:

"I have a very good offer for your New Orleans property, daughter," said Mr. Dinsmore; "shall I accept it?"

"Do you think it advisable, papa? and you, Edward? I have great confidence in your judgments."

"We do; we think the money could be better and more safely invested in foreign stock; but it is for you to decide, as the property is yours."

"More safely invested? I thought I had heard you both say real estate was the safest of all investments."

"Usually," replied her father, "but we fear property there is likely to depreciate in value."

If by "depreciate in value" you mean "get razed by Yankees", sure. I bet there are a fair few homeowners today who wish they had Dinsmore and Travilla's crystal ball.

So Mrs. T, Travilla's mother, gets sick and dies. My money's on metastatic, inoperable cancer; Mrs. T has a slow, painful decline, which diabetes really couldn't offer back in the day. Somewhere in all that, Elsie's pregnant again; she gives birth a week after her mother-in-law dies. Oy. Every time she has a kid, they treat her like she's breakable. Dinsmore lost Elsie senior (yes, Elsie is the second in a line of three) right after she gave birth at, oh gods, sixteen and two weeks. Compared to that, Travilla married an old maid. Childbirth and Elsie apparently don't get on well; she takes her sweet time recovering, and I'm getting a hint of post-partum depression from

"You want change, daughter," Mr. Dinsmore said, coming in one morning and finding her lying pale and languid on a sofa; "and we are all longing to have you at home. Do you feel equal to a drive over to the Oaks?"

In the real world, of course, a bit of inter-plantation travel doesn't cure a damn thing, but it works great on Elsie. So, too, does a subsequent trip to Europe.

In 1860.

Somehow I don't think they'll ever see their plantations again. Just as well, though, because the Dinsmores and Travillas are all pro-Union. They have family on both sides, which is heartbreaking, but they also have money out the ol' posterior, so Elsie can afford to lend a bit to the war effort and still be comfortable waiting out the war in Europe. The worst scare they have there is baby Elsie's seizure. Ignorance was bliss back then; Dinsmore's wife, Elsie's stepmother, blithely mentions that her sisters had seizures all the time as kids. Because the kid's a Dinsmore by blood, of course this seizure kicks off an illness, and of course the illness almost kills the baby. Almost. Don't worry; the youngest Elsie has her own adventures waiting in future books. Elsie number two promptly makes another baby, just in case.

Meanwhile, back on the farm, Dinsmore's most decent sibling, Walter, goes to war and dies. Ouch. But Elsie makes sure he's Saved! Nobody's spared in that respect, really; almost everyone we've met so far loses someone. Oh, and Dinsmore's actually upset over the Emancipation Proclamation because he's going to be poorer without his slaves. Again, oy. Travilla has the bright idea to actually pay their people to work, though he's not entirely sure they'll take the money (!), which cheers the old man up a little bit. Two years later, the war ends, everyone comes home, and we find out just how Walter bit it: escaping from Andersonville, where one of Elsie's many admirers, Harold Allison (stepmother Rose's brother. Yeah, I know) catches his death. Again, magical new baby! Prison camp? A mere bagatelle. Pregnancy? OH NOES THINK OF TEH CHILDRUN.

Miraculously, Viamede survives the war intact. What? I guess not selling before they went to Europe paid off. Just as well, because everyone else's homes have been ravaged like Catherine Coulter's early heroines.

Harold dies. Nobody notices.

We catch up with Dinsmore's kin. His father's a widower, his sister a widow twice over -- married two Confederates -- and oh yes: she's just as rude as ever. Eh. I like that she sticks up for herself as a surviving child when Dinsmore Senior (!!) laments the loss of his precious sons, but otherwise she's a repellent character.

By the end of the book, it's 1867, Elsie's thirty-one as far as I know, and Travilla's as madly in love with her as ever. Of course he's not going to get fifty more years to tell her so, but he wishes for them anyway. He's a real sweetheart. I should also, at some point, mention that he does have a first name (Edward) but I kept flashing back to Twilight every time I tried to use it, so he's stuck being Travilla to me. Sorry, mate.

No review of this book is complete without at least mentioning the fact that it is a product of its time. Doubtless Mrs. Finley remembered the era of which she wrote -- this is the antebellum fantasy to end all antebellum fantasies. Attitudes we know are racist today were accepted then, though Elsie tries to treat her slaves as people within the confines of her worldview. She works to reunite families where she can, and opines that such reunions are worth many thousands of dollars; in pre-Civil War terms, that must have sounded positively abolitionist. (Undone, of course, pages later: "But some amount of patience with the natural slowness of the negro is a necessary trait in the character of an overseer who wishes to remain in my employ.") I hate, hate, hate the practice of setting the people of color apart by their speech, but it was customary then, so I'm gritting my teeth and forging on ahead. I like to think perhaps the characters are putting on a show and laughing behind their hands at all of those silly white people -- which may or may not fly in the face of history.

Thank God the other ones are set well after 1863.

Elsie Dinsmore, eternal figure of fun. O. Henry made fun of her, and now, so can I -- but I rib with love. Like I said, I ship Elsie and her husband. They're darling together. I like this book best of the ones I've read; sure, it has a few too many B-plots, but if you ignore those (which you can without losing much), this is a great little yarn.

[Bkwyrm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yep. Still reading them. Don't ask me why.

[Haley Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book, but it's also super sad. Although I do have issues with her inaccurate description of the Civil War. It's interesting to me that even though Finley write closer to that time than historians today, she still seemed to portray it in the modern light. I wish more people studied what it was actually about.
This book really made me think about having my own kids and raising up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I forgot to mention, many of the verses used in this book are completely out of context. Also, the names are really hard to keep up with.

[Amy Esslinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can understand why people like this series, but I liked it less as the series continued. For one thing, her relationship with her father isn’t inspiring. Instead of leaving and having a family with her husband, like the biblical model, she continued to live with both her father and her husband and still be under her father’s authority…? I thought it was strange.

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is the one where the series started to go downhill for me.

[Tara Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find that as I read or re-read classic literature from every age, my patience for certain topics or pieces has definitely increased with age. While I would never say I was a devout fan of any "ism", I would think that feminists, as well as people who believe in equality would have had a great deal of trouble reading this series. I can understand the period in which the pieces were written; and that the limited experience of the author would have made it's mark on the novels. While I can find each story to be a sweet simple piece, perfectly suited to little girls, the constant references to "gentle and obedient darkies," and the long suffering piety of Elsie herself drive me to give it only three stars. She seems so much less than what a normal girl of her age would have been, even given the constraints of upbringing and the period itself. Having read the earlier novels and seen the near-martyrdom she experienced at the hands of a self-absorbed and utterly fastidious father, I would almost say that I find her obedience to be less natural in form, and more acutely a symptom of PTSD.

Rather like Melanie Wilkes, the unsung heroine of Gone With the Wind, the overwhelming gentle piety and good humor without any rancor in the face of all events is trying to the reader. However, unlike Elsie, Melanie presents a great counterpoint to the other more volatile characters around her, allowing them to use her as a living conscience. Elsie's stories are often too flat, and the characters two-dimensional to give them as much emotional value as those in GWtW.

I think I'll continue on with the series, if only to have something to do at work, and to marvel at the notion that these books were considered "classic" reading for children.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD is #4 in the series and I must admit that Elsie, despite all her dreadfulness, has become my favorite heroine. She's all grown up now, at least physically, and of course she's still beautiful and pious and sweet. She's married too, to the adoring Mr. Travilla who treats her like the emotional child she is. Once wed, she becomes the perfect Victorian wife. She also begins having babies, one child every two years by my reckoning. How this happens seems a matter of some question, since Elsie's union is "disturbed by no feverish heat of passion." Notwithstanding the beautiful, dimpled babies keep on appearing. The real question is, how will Elsie's Papa deal with losing his beloved daughter to another? And the melodrama continues, with an armed gunman threatening Elsie's very life in a scene that's worthy of any Penny Dreadful...

This book moves us into the Civil War era, with the Southern states seceding from the Union. Elsie shows a certain naivete about the pending conflict, not quite understanding what the politics are all about. She sees nothing wrong with slavery and considers the Abolitionists to be "overly judgmental." In one passage she praises nineteenth-century America, denying that there's any oppression whatsoever in her glorious land. Statements like this betray her own ignorance as to the realities of life. She should certainly know better, having seen enough cases of racism and inhumanity in this book alone. Author Martha Finley describes such things as slaves being whipped and black families torn apart on the auction block. Yet Elsie continues to wear rose-colored glasses and to think that everything's just hunky-dory. Her world view is soon to change dramatically with the outbreak of war...and not all of her family and friends will survive!

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars & 5/10 hearts. In my opinion, the Elsie books just get better & better. It is so incredibly refreshing to read a book where I 100% agree with all the spiritual content—and which is FULL of spiritual content! I loved seeing Elsie’s routine with her children. Also, I have to admit that at first I didn’t quite like Elsie’s marriage—but now her husband is just perfect for her & it’s not jarring/disturbing at all. The Civil War just broke my heart again, especially with the deaths of some of my favourite characters & with all the heartache! I appreciated how the wrongdoing of both North & South were shown; and I was pleased to find a book where I agreed with the stand on the Civil War. I also liked how Horace admitted he’d been too strict with Elsie—SO GLAD he finally admitted that! This story brought tears to my eyes more than once. I definitely enjoyed it & I look forwards to the next Elsie book!

A Favourite Quote: “‘Oh, the air of liberty is sweet! ... but we mustn't delay here.’
“‘No; we are far from safe yet[,] but—“prayer and provender hinder no man's journey”; Duncan, let us spend one moment in silent prayer for success in reaching the Union lines.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “...a quaint little figure could be seen standing at the gate in the shade of a maple tree, whose leaves of mingled green and scarlet, just touched by the September frosts, made a brilliant contrast to the sober hue of her dress.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘The doctor's as busy as ever, killing people all round the country; he's very successful at it,’ replied Miss Stanhope; ‘I've the utmost confidence in his skill.’
“‘You are a warm friend of his, I know, aunt,’ said Mr. Dinsmore, smiling, ‘but I would advise you not to try to assist his reputation among strangers[, l]est they should take your words literally[.]’”

[Josie Seto · Rating 1 out of 5]

Elsie is an uninspiring heroine and don’t love the way it deals with culture.

[aMandalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I related to this Elsie book more than any of the chronological previous books, most likely due to the fact that I am in her time of life at the setting of this book. I adore the Elsie books and always have. The first book helped me as I read it many, many times in my youth. It is enjoyable to follow her through her life and the time frame of the civil war is both devastating and intriguing.

[Esther Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the other books in this series, Elsie’s Womanhood picks up where Elsie’s Girlhood left off—at the scene where Elsie is finally engaged. This story continues the tale, and while it’s fairly slow at times, there are several interesting diversions with Tom Jackson trying to kill Mr. Travilla—or Elsie, if he can—in order to get revenge for not being able to marry Elsie himself. Then Elsie’s family starts to grow, and the Civil War begins, with friends fighting on both sides. After five long years, the war is over—with many family members dead or permanently changed. This was another great book in the series—I’m looking forward to reading Elsie’s Motherhood!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Elsie books are fantastic, especially the first ten!

[Denae Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reader thoughts: How did I finish it? I don't know. This book was ridiculously boring. She got married and had kids (the synopsis gives that away, so that's not a spoiler). They completely avoided the Civil War by living in another country for a while for health reasons. Their main connection that that conflict was through letters.

I guess they talked with one of the soldier veterans at one point, and his description of the prisoner of war camp is supposed to be historically accurate. Also, people Elsie knew died in the war. But because it wasn't her nor her husband nor children, it didn't feel horrible. If I remember right, they weren't even supporting one side or the other.

Writer thoughts: Letters aren't exciting. Getting married isn't a plot by itself. Having kids isn't conflict without anything going wrong. There was no struggle, no big moral debate nor personal tension to hold the reader's interest. You have to add conflict, have to have something going wrong for the MC.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so good -

In this book Elsie marries her long time friend Mr. Travilla.
They travel to Europe where they have planned an extended
vacation

While there the Civil War breaks out at home. As much as
they are concerned for family members, they wait before
coming home.

When they do nothing of their homes are the same. Many
needing renovations/repairs. Some family members have
been lost during the war.

[Sarah Creeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading this series. Dear Elsie is a woman of great faith and a role model. If only my faith could be as big as hers.

This series, however, takes place in a very different time. While you can't base all your beliefs or morals on it entirely (after all, we should only be doing so of the Bible), it's a worthwhile, wholesome read.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminds me a little of the anne of green gables series

[Sammie Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another easy 5 stars. What a journey.

[Nat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wildly problematic.

[Mecque · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? I'm just very fond of Edward Travilla. I appreciated the increased action/adventure scenes in this volume. I think I might actually keep reading these books. I had trouble keeping track of the female characters changing names at the end because of marriages, and the Civil War aftermath scenes were pretty brutal. Overall, my favorite book in the series so far.

That is, it's my favorite if I forget about the incredibly uncomfortable portrayal of African Americans throughout the book. They don't completely ruin it, but I would never ever give this book to an impressionable reader (aka the young girls these books are aimed at). I don't blame the author (it was a different time period) , but that aspect of the book was horrifying and made my feel sick as I was reading it.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book for character-building. The same problems as my reviews of earlier books with writing style but mostly explained by the era in which it was written. A general look at the the cause of the Civil War and a more emotional display of the "brother against brother" nature of the war that tore families and devoured the youth.

[Shari Klase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully old fashioned

I love these Elsie books both for their good values and charm. Yes, they are a bit out dated but still very entertaining to read. It's a great pleasure to watch Elsie grow from child to mother in these books and to see her faith grow as well. I highly recommend them.

[Elisabeth Gimenez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading this one. It was good, but also sad reading about the civil war how that brothers fought against each other. The book might not be true but its sad knowing that things like that really did happen.

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I pick up this book again?
I think I'm officially done reading any more Elsie books. I'm tired of hearing that she's perfect and her faultless character is really starting to get on my nerves!

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was amazing and a great story! to me it had a good end with Elsie's Womanhood. I loved the way the author describes things in the story. And even though this one was especially sad it was beautiful and well written!

[Meadow Frisbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsie and her father prepare for her marriage to dear Edward Travilla.

This book was one of my favorite's of the series.

[Nicole C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many children! and they just appear with no explanation. Yay, and Elsie marries a much-older man. Creepy!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is a bit Calvinistic in its theology, and it's also a bit uber-Christian; i.e., the Christians are really, really good and the non-Christians are really, really bad.

[Leash · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable part of the series, full of romance.

[Javaladybuggmail.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting the look from outside the civil war..

Familial love vs national honor and loss of the places once cherished and loved.. Hope stolen and then restored.. Amazing

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was kinda boring...and kinda sad...But it was pretty good other than that.:D