Audrey

by Mary Johnston, F.C. Yohn (Illustrator)

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

440 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

The daughter of an American Civil War soldier who became a successful lawyer, Mary Johnston was born in the small town of Buchanan, Virginia. A small and frail girl, she was educated at home by family and tutors. She grew up with a love of books and was financially independent enough to devote herself to writing.

Johnston wrote historical books and novels that often combined romance with history. Her novels were bestsellers in America, Canada and England.

During her long career, in addition to twenty-three novels, Johnston wrote a number of short stories, one drama, and two long narrative poems. She used her fame to advocate women's rights, strongly supporting the women's suffrage movement.

Reviews

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey is written in a style particular to the turn of the twentieth century. In order to "get into it", you have to adjust to the pace and effusiveness of historical romance of that period. It is a genuine adjustment, but once it is made, the rewards are rich. Put yourself in the position of a reader in 1902 when this book was published. The airplane was not invented until the next year, in 1903. Oklahoma wasn't a state until 1907 (Arizona and New Mexico followed in 1912). The first Ford "Model T" rolled out in 1908. It was a totally different world.

The author is a master at painting pictures with words. The colonial Williamsburg of her imagination has no weeds, no bugs, and the wicked people are only wicked to a point - certainly not to the point of wicked people in today's literature. She is all about beauty, grace and serenity.

Some descriptive passages roll on and on - nothing says you have to read every word in order to enjoy a book.

Audrey is a story of innocence and was a best seller in an America that was still largely innocent. It was made into a silent film in 1916, but no copies are known to exist. As an interesting sidelight to Mary Johnston - she was a very active supporter of early women's rights - something I wouldn't have thought after reading this book.

So why did I like it? I let myself be swept into her descriptions. I could see the gardens, hear the footsteps in the houses, picture each character. I could imagine my great-grandmother as a girl reading this book. I enjoy that sense of connection to the past. It is definitely an acquired taste.

[Susan C Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful storyteller, descriptive

[L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK except for the last few pages of the story, which so ticked me off. The ending just ruined the whole thing for me.

[Tripp]

Signed