The Girl Who Had Nothing

by A.M. Williamson

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Audiobook

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1905

About the author

Alice Muriel Williamson, English-American novelist

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah...I found the MC, Joan, to be a very unsympathetic character. Her drive to “get ahead” made her abrasive and I found it hard to believe she could turn off her cupidity at just the right moment to help friends and perfectly maintain her “sweet” facade. Soft heart/self first is a super hard character motivation to pull off, and it just didn’t work for me.

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, convoluted read embroiled in genuine breathlessness and just a bit boring.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Carthew was left by her mother to the not so loving care of a woman who runs a boarding house in Brighton. When her mother fails to returns and the money runs out Joan becomes a servant in the boarding house. At the age of 12 Joan finally has had enough and embarks on a mission to become someone wealthy and important, which leads to one adventure after another.

In the story that follows (after about 6 years, and a failed attempt at becoming a good old-fashion heiress) Joan tries her hand, rather successfully, at insider trading, blackmail, and selling state secrets. All of which she manages to do while still being a likable character!

Although the story is highly improbable (the ending even more than the rest), I had a lot of fun reading it.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Girl Who Had Nothing” is the interesting story of the dreams and schemes of Jane, a clever young beauty who had been abandoned as a young child, to the care of a boardinghouse matron. The matron took every advantage of the charity case girl, often mistreating her, and little Jane planned for the day when she could escape the misery and begin her climb to wealth and freedom. Each step of her journey is full of bold risks, intriguing plots, and an indomitable spirit. Her beauty, intelligence, and ability to read people led her into many escapades. She often played at different characters, and did not hesitate to hide her true motives or the truth, but along the way, she always befriended and helped out weaker people.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life is not about how many good cards you get but how well you play the cards you have got ...and Joan is just the epitome of this saying. Feisty ...practical and charming ....although the end seems a bit rushed through as if without a hero the story would have been incomplete ...all and all...a nice read .

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore the way this author writes: both with her husband and solo, as this work is.
This is a short book- only 12 chapters, but really interesting character studies- and that’s a trademark of her books.
I very happy to have listened to it via the collection of free audiobooks at LibriVox.org.

[Jillian Bald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this free audiobook by Librivox Recordings while painting walls. The 12 short chapters were narrated by several different people, which was sometimes annoying to have voice and tempo changes, but my review is not about the actual recording.

"The Girl Who Had Nothing" kept me entertained while I rolled paint for three hours. The description said this was children's fiction/general fiction, but I would not call this a children's book. The main character, Joan, is dealt a bad hand in life and is spiteful from a young age. An adult could understand and appreciate Joan's reasons for her anger, but not so much a child reader. In the end, the book is actually more of a romance since Joan plays matchmaker in every chapter.

Joan was bent on adventure, making money, having possessions, beautiful clothing, and sticking it to those who already possess all of this in their lives. The story was written as a magazine serial in 1903/1904, and it reflects the attitudes of those times, and how women were striving to perhaps have a career and not just be arm-candy to a man. When you take that into consideration, the main character is a modern woman. Her actions could be praiseworth, although she cheats people and takes advantage of every situation like a sociopath. But that makes for a better book.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't care for this one as well as their others, but it was still good. Joan starts out being a hideous, selfish and grasping person, always looking out for herself first, and caring nothing for people who care about her. Even hardship doesn't change this about her, but eventually the person that she could be is slowly uncovered.

[Mbuye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of stories about the making of a young and successful adventuress, who is not quite ruthless. The people she likes tend to be very lucky indeed, while the people who get in her way have reason to rue their misfortunes.

This is not the best of Williamson's books, but makes for pleasant casual reading all the same.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad plot concept, but the ending was rushed.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early 20th century chick lit. The clever and amusing adventures of Joan Carhew, an orphan. Set in England and France.