The Girl From Farris's

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

A one-time resident of Chicago’s notorious Red light district, Maggie Lynch sets out determinedly to end her life of sin and find a decent job. But on entering the respectable world Maggie finds that deceit and greed are as rampant in corporate offices as on the streets she so desperately wants to escape.

Genres: Fiction, Ebooks, Literature, Mystery, Fantasy

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1916

About the author

Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just when you think you have Burroughs all figured out... There are no apes or swords in this book. This novel didn't appear in print until fifteen years after his death. It's rather short and paced inconsistently, so he may have intended to give it another pass but never got around to it. The first chapter or two has rather convoluted syntax and more complex phrasing than his adventure novels, and I had the feeling that he was going for a more flowery literary flavor than the straight and direct simple prose for which he was best known. The story follows the life of June Lathrop, who is introduced as she escaping from a brothel, and her determination to get her life back on a righteous track. She is inspired by the kindness of a young man named Ogden Secor, and their lives intertwine throughout the book. There are several breaks where months and years pass in a paragraph, which is a little jarring. It's a nice story of redemption with several twists and turns and some severe commentary on societal perceptions and religious hypocrisy. On the down side, the frequency with which the characters coincidentally encounter one another is impossible to buy into; Chicago must have been half the size of Mayberry, and what are the odds they'd both wind up in a tiny Idaho town at the same time? The ending presents some twisty surprises that are tied up just a bit too neatly, but, overall, it was a quick, interesting read; a century ago it might have been the basis of a Hallmark movie.

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Farris's is a house of ill-repute, and when a police officer set on throwing Farris in jail sees a woman escaping out of the back of the building in silky and scanty dress, he corners her and blackmails her into testifying against Farris. At the trial, she contends that Farris held her there against her will and stole her clothes to keep her prisoner. Her beauty and appearance of innocence endears her to the jury, and after the court proceedings, one man approaches her and offers to help her get back on her feet. Stunned by his pure intentions but too prideful to accept, she is inspired to try to live a good life.

She gets a job and although she can barely afford to care for herself, she stays on the straight and narrow, but her past is bound to catch up to her.

The Girl From Farris's reads easily the way Burroughs' other works typically do. It is short, entertaining, and satisfying with a cute little twist ending.

[Jeff Greason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed ERB's Tarzan and John Carter books, though his creativity is in the invention of settings more than in plot, and after a few books in each series, one gets the sense of him telling the same story again. I found this quite by accident, through a reference to works illustrated by Frank Frazetta (which may apply to a different edition than this one). It might not be the most sophisticated tale, and the convenient twists of fate put one very sharply in mid of "A Princess of Mars" -- but ERB's skill as ever lies in a new setting, and seeing him work in the underworlds of Chicago at the dawn of the 20th century had a charm of its own.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these lesser-known Burroughs stories. Here he provides a redemption story, a Cinderella story, a commentary on religious people who prefer to feel good about what they're doing as opposed to actually doing good, sleazy men and gold-digging women. All of this in an entertaining tale told with Burroughs' trademark pacing.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise

This was an easy read and a surprise at how much you are routing for the characters. A lot different to his other books but in my opinion it's his best.

[Sammy Smooth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting departure from the John Carter of Barsoom series.

[Kirk Dobihal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another femme fatale book by Burroughs with predictive ending, though likable.

[Tim Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different for ERB but very well written.

[ʀᴏʙɪɴ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burroughs's best work in my opinion; a social novel with dramatic undertones where the heroine doesn't get kidnapped for once. The story follows June Lathrop, a cynical prostitute who wishes to turn her life around. She quits the red-light district, takes on a new name and tries to find a respectable career as an office lady, only to be bullied and blackmailed by co-workers who are aware of her past. Burroughs maintains a sympathetic tone from beginning to end, and he does a good job highlighting the hypocrisy of those who despise sex workers on moral grounds yet still want their services. The occasional sentimentalism can sometimes feel calculated, but the novel's verisimilitude stems from June's struggles with discrimination in the early twentieth century, including its impact on her mental and emotional well-being.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) since I was a kid and my dad would buy me Tarzan paperbacks--the ones that came out in the 60s. By the end of elementary school, I had read most of Burroughs' books--and there are about 76 of them. The Chicago-born author wrote not only the Tarzan novels, but the John Carter of Mars series, The Land that Time Forgot series, and many more... This book was written in 1913 and 1914 and is not set in an African jungle, but in the concrete jungle of Chicago. It's the story of Maggie Lynch who wants to escape a life of sin and find a decent job. But the corporate world can be one of greed and deceit. It's a very short novel without the action adventure that ERB was known for and the ending is a much too hasty one.
I give it *** because at least it is Burroughs and, while it is no Tarzan or John Carter book, I am happy to read another of his books. It's like revisiting an old friend.

[Alton Motobu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former prostitute becomes a successful executive secretary, but her past catches up with her. She is accused of murder and robbery, then her boss is assaulted by burglars and he turns into an alcoholic drifter. The two meet years later in Idaho and fall in love, but police arrive and haul them back to Chicago where she stands trial. The truth comes out - she is innocent! Typical ERB dramatics. Corny but fun.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of ERB's non fantastic stories. Interesting but rather run of the mill. Of course, it has ERB's trademark narrative drive, which carries the story well.

[Gus · Rating 3 out of 5]

First ERB book that I read that wasn't fantasy or Sci Fi. Really enjoyed it.

[Rob Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't write a review when I read it, and cannot remember it now. When you don't remember what a book was about, it probably wasn't that good.