What do you think?
Rate this book
Farewell the Stranger
Story of a pioneer bride and how she overcomes the crippling memory of her husband's first marriage to win his love and admiration
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1956
46 people want to read
About the author
Saliee O'Brien
22 books10 followersPseudonym of Frances Leroy "Frankie-Lee" Griggs Weed Zelley Janas..
She wrote hundreds of novels and short stories, publishing under pseudonyms including Marie Eyre, Francesca Greer, and Stuart Jason.
She was born 19 November 1908 in Appleton City, Missouri, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Griggs and Lillian Maud Bremer. She later moved to Austin, Texas where she met and married Thurlow B. Weed, Jr. They were later divorced, and she and her son Thurlow B. Weed III moved to Hollywood, Florida. There she remarried to Leroy Zelley, whom she outlived, and later married newspaper editor Eugene Janas. Frankie-Lee (Griggs) Janas died 15 February 2002, and was buried next to her husband in Hollywood Memorial Gardens.
Her first publication was a short ghost story that was printed in her hometown newspaper when she was 12 years old. Her final book was "Cayo", a historical fiction set in Key West, Florida, and published in 1983.
Her son having predeceased her, her grandson Thurlow B. Weed IV became her literary heir. There were a number of manuscripts (MSS) that were never published. Of particular interest is a collection of short stories written in the 1950s. They are historical fiction as well as biographical fiction. They are being transcribed, edited,and published as Kindle editions. Other previously unpublished works are being reviewed for possible publication.
She wrote hundreds of novels and short stories, publishing under pseudonyms including Marie Eyre, Francesca Greer, and Stuart Jason.
She was born 19 November 1908 in Appleton City, Missouri, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Griggs and Lillian Maud Bremer. She later moved to Austin, Texas where she met and married Thurlow B. Weed, Jr. They were later divorced, and she and her son Thurlow B. Weed III moved to Hollywood, Florida. There she remarried to Leroy Zelley, whom she outlived, and later married newspaper editor Eugene Janas. Frankie-Lee (Griggs) Janas died 15 February 2002, and was buried next to her husband in Hollywood Memorial Gardens.
Her first publication was a short ghost story that was printed in her hometown newspaper when she was 12 years old. Her final book was "Cayo", a historical fiction set in Key West, Florida, and published in 1983.
Her son having predeceased her, her grandson Thurlow B. Weed IV became her literary heir. There were a number of manuscripts (MSS) that were never published. Of particular interest is a collection of short stories written in the 1950s. They are historical fiction as well as biographical fiction. They are being transcribed, edited,and published as Kindle editions. Other previously unpublished works are being reviewed for possible publication.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 21, 2017
I found the vintage hardcover of Farewell the Stranger on a dusty shelf in an old bookshop. This was the same treasury of little-known authors where I bought The Fortunate Miss East and Wild Orchard some time ago. Like those two books, the jacket intrigued me: a surly hunter traipsing up a hill with a kerchiefed young woman attempting to keep up.
~~~~
Devora Griggs was the 29-year-old spinster sister of Amos Griggs, a businessman and town leader in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the progressive year of 1808 with trappers, gamblers, boatmen and the Osage coming together to dicker their goods and trade.
Devora was considered the ‘handsomest woman in St. Louis, hitched or unhitched’ but she had no fancy opinion as to her looks. She considered herself to be a tall plain-featured woman with good broad shoulders and square hands. I liked Devora. Her endearing personality matched her common sense.
Jerd Warner was a widowed backwoodsman. ’He was handsome in a completely homely manner. He was too big- nose, shoulders, bones, feet, weathered and sunned around his big ears and down his neck to a faded tan.’ He was a father of fraternal twin babies and was in need of a mother. Devora had seen him twice in the past five years, dreamed of him sporadically but never met him until the night he proposed.
She accepted.
They married the next morning after her brother told her, sadly, not to return. A few days on the trail, Devora sensed ‘something terrible was wrong with this man who was taking her into the wilderness. He was in torment.’
Minus the references to slaves -the story was published in 1956- I enjoyed the book. It was rustic and unpretentious. Jerd was a man of few words and Devora complimented him.
Then, if I didn’t know better, a door opened at the top of chapter 13. I asked myself: what the ___?!?’ In a bizarre fashion, Jerd told Devora about his first wife. I started to struggle with the plot. That is, until
~~~~
Devora Griggs was the 29-year-old spinster sister of Amos Griggs, a businessman and town leader in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the progressive year of 1808 with trappers, gamblers, boatmen and the Osage coming together to dicker their goods and trade.
Devora was considered the ‘handsomest woman in St. Louis, hitched or unhitched’ but she had no fancy opinion as to her looks. She considered herself to be a tall plain-featured woman with good broad shoulders and square hands. I liked Devora. Her endearing personality matched her common sense.
Jerd Warner was a widowed backwoodsman. ’He was handsome in a completely homely manner. He was too big- nose, shoulders, bones, feet, weathered and sunned around his big ears and down his neck to a faded tan.’ He was a father of fraternal twin babies and was in need of a mother. Devora had seen him twice in the past five years, dreamed of him sporadically but never met him until the night he proposed.
She accepted.
They married the next morning after her brother told her, sadly, not to return. A few days on the trail, Devora sensed ‘something terrible was wrong with this man who was taking her into the wilderness. He was in torment.’
Minus the references to slaves -the story was published in 1956- I enjoyed the book. It was rustic and unpretentious. Jerd was a man of few words and Devora complimented him.
Then, if I didn’t know better, a door opened at the top of chapter 13. I asked myself: what the ___?!?’ In a bizarre fashion, Jerd told Devora about his first wife. I started to struggle with the plot. That is, until
April 30, 2025
It was surprisingly so entertaining, I'm not gonna lie. The ending was a bit abrupt, I was kind of like "Oh... that's it?" when I turned the last page, but mmmm yeah 4/5. I loved the plot twist.
July 5, 2017
OMG. did not expect those twists. well written, well crafted, clues were implemented, but I did not guess where it would end. first half of the book was delicious and fun. second half was suspense and drama. it was exceptional.
I guess the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I'm not sure I'd want to read it again. the drama included a real life nightmare for any happily married woman.
Favorite quote: "Most men has their times when they act like a thundercloud." pg 117
I guess the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I'm not sure I'd want to read it again. the drama included a real life nightmare for any happily married woman.
Favorite quote: "Most men has their times when they act like a thundercloud." pg 117
January 5, 2013
st. louis 1808, country man comes to town, ask first lady he sees to marrry him. does , all well until sister of first wife shows up. interesting plot. fun read
April 9, 2025
Another of my "read every year" books
November 22, 2021
Found this in an antique shop and the premise sounded interesting. It was a good read that took me back to the 1800s. I will say the ending was a little abrupt, but overall interesting read.
January 4, 2025
I found this vintage book on my mom’s bookshelf. She said it had been a favorite of my grandmothers which she had read in 1956 according to her inscription inside the book cover. I thought it would be interesting to read and see what type of book she had enjoyed. It’s the story of a young bride of convenience living on the frontier. She has to deal with her husband’s past while trying to build a relationship with him. The story has a lot of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming making it an interesting read.
July 14, 2020
I seem to have hit a string of very strange books, and this was just another one. It started out as a very normal pioneer sort of story, but soon turned into one strange string of people and events. Hope my luck improves soon!
Read
August 28, 2015Read this book as a teen-ager and loved it and lost the copy that I had so I ordered it used and plan to read it again. I also plan to order a copy for my oldest daughter, I had told her about it and she wanted to read it too.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews