The Randolphs

by Pansy, Isabella MacDonald Alden

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Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction

First published January 1, 1876

About the author

Note: In her lifetime, Isabella Macdonald Alden was usually published under the pseudonym Pansy, and occasionally under the name Mrs. G.R. Alden.

Aunt to Grace Livingston Hill

The sixth of seven children born to Isaac and Myra Spafford Macdonald, of Rochester, New York, Isabella Macdonald received her early education from her father, who home-schooled her, and gave her a nickname - "Pansy" - that she would use for many of her publications. As a girl, she kept a daily journal, critiqued by her father, and she published her first story - The Old Clock - in a village paper when she was ten years old.

Macdonald's education continued at the Oneida Seminary, the Seneca Collegiate Institute, and the Young Ladies Institute, all in New York. It was at the Oneida Seminary that she met her long-time friend (and eventual co-author), Theodosia Toll, who secretly submitted one of Macdonald's manuscripts in a competition, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to the publication of her first book, Helen Lester, in 1865.

Macdonald also met her future husband, the Rev. Gustavus Rossenberg Alden, at the Oneida Seminary, and the two were married in 1866. Now Isabella Macdonald Alden, the newly-married minister's wife followed her husband as his postings took them around the country, dividing her time between writing, church duties, and raising her son Raymond (born 1873).

A prolific author, who wrote approximately one hundred novels from 1865 to 1929, and co-authored ten more, Alden was also actively involved in the world of children's and religious periodicals, publishing numerous short stories, editing the Sunday Juvenile Pansy from 1874-1894, producing Sunday School lessons for The Westminster Teacher for twenty years, and working on the editorial staff of various other magazines (Trained Motherhood, The Christian Endeavor).

Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with an estimated 100,000 copies of Alden's books sold, in 1900.

Information taken from:

readseries.com

isabellamacdonaldalden.com

Reviews

[aMandalin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book you can read without full focus. Maybe it’s the old fashioned language, maybe it’s the plot. Once you get half way through the book, you’ll be hooked. But up until that point it was a little challenging. I did love the morals and lessons in this book! A challenge to be sure for us modern women. Maria tried to do it all, take it all on, without letting herself accept help from anyone, and without leaning on the Saviour.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts a few months after “Household Puzzles” ends. Instead of having the whole Randolph family as main characters, this one focuses mostly on Maria and Tom. The others aren’t ignored but they aren’t around as much. Oh, Maria, Maria! How many people are like her? They think they have no need of help even from the One who created them. So many great lessons in this book and they aren’t preached at the reader, they are lived in the story.
Recommended.

[Sarah TheAromaofBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a sequel, so I was missing some background information for various characters, but the story still flowed fairly well. My only disappointment was that we spent so much time with Maria when she was being stubborn and independent, but most of her shift to faith and Christianity happens off-page in a big time-jump of five years towards the end of the book! I would have loved a lot more of her coming to terms with her situation and how this led her to Christ. Still an enjoyable read, and an interesting look at the time (originally published 1876 - loved how one person came from "out west"... in Michigan...).

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life's Choices Continue to Matter. In this interesting sequel we continue with the Randolph family in an expose of spiritual and moral choices. Life is good when we make the right choices. A thoughtful read.

[Abigail Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love old books, especially the Pansy books. This was a full book with a very good message. I mean to do"whatsoever" my Lord commands.

[Amanda Tero · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in a two-book series, "The Randolphs" makes me think of a Christian "Little Women." Though it definitely has hints of "gutter to glory" story-telling, it is one of my favorites by Isabella (Pansy) Alden.

[Sarah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and I really liked how she made it all turn out good for every one in the end! :-)

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2-book series of the Randolph family is simply delightful. I could read more! I will miss them.