Penelope's Progress

by Kate Douglas Wiggin

We buy our tea of the Pettybaw grocer, some of our cups are cracked, the teapot is of earthenware, Miss Grieve disapproves of all social tea-fuddles and shows it plainly when she brings in the tray, and the room is so small that some of us overflow into the hall or the garden; it matters not; there is some fatal charm in our humble hospitality. -from Chapter XX Penelope Hamilton is a young American lady abroad in Scotland with her friends Francesca, who is "aggressively American," and Salemina, "a citizen of the world." Together they endure the damp chill of Edinburgh, attend an aristocrat's birthday feast, are presented at the Scottish court, explore the countryside, and immerse themselves in the society of small-town Scottish life. Romance and marriage may also find themselves in the offing. First published in 1898, this is a long-forgotten classic from one of the most beloved authors of young adult fiction... the kind that adults enjoy even more than children do. Brew a pot of tea and settle in for a delightful read. American author and educator KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN (1856-1923) was born in Philadelphia. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 but is perhaps best known as the author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1903).

276 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2005

About the author

Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

Kate Douglas Wiggin, nee Smith (1856-1923) was an American children's author and educator. She was born in Philadelphia, and was of Welsh descent. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 (the "Silver Street Free Kindergarten"). With her sister in the 1880s she also established a training school for kindergarten teachers. Her best known books are The Story of Pasty (1883), The Birds' Christmas Carol (1886), Polly Oliver's Problem (1893), A Cathedral Courtship (1893), The Village Watchtoer (1896), Marm Lisa (1897) and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1903).

Reviews

[Deena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delight. I wish I'd read them in order, and now must go get/read the first one.

The writing style is just shy of a comedy of manners, which I always think of as being just touched with an edge of something sharp - not malice or spite, but an edge nonetheless. This is far too affectionate and gentle to be that, but also isn't taking itself very seriously. That's a bit cryptic, perhaps, but I know what I mean (and it's my review, not a sales pitch).

I was surprised (probably due to being out of practice with fiction of this period) by the depth of international cultural knowledge one needs to get the most from this book. Half of what the girls do and say would be lost without it - although one could easily reference enough to make up the knowledge, but since it's just a story I don't know that it would be worth it. But it's not so much reading it now where that's a problem - but it definitely would have been in 1898, I would think. And that makes me suspect that for all she was known for her YA writing, KDW probably didn't really intend this for 'tweens. Additionally, it seems unlikely that this was ever popular with the "masses," - again despite being KDW - because if you'd left school early to work in a mill, you probably didn't have much of a chance for exposure to 17th and 18th century Scottish poets. Yes, you can get through this, and even enjoy it, without a lot of that knowledge, but you'd certainly be missing much of the humor. There are simpler references as well, that it would be easy to miss, then and now. Tough to gauge how much was known/understood by which readers when this was new.

At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite the complete lack of vampires or shapeshifters.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all of you who have actually waded through Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, here is a much more interesting story by the same author. This is the adventure of Penelope and her two friends, one spinster and one young lady, as they betake their American selves to Scotland. Thrust into Edinburgh high society, the friends blunder and charm their way into the hearts of the Scotch. Featuring laugh-out-loud anecdotes and even a bit of romance, this is a fun story.

I would warn those of you who absolutely hate anything but action, Penelope does wax eloquent on occasion about Scottish history. Just so you know.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The same thing as Penelope's Experiences in Scotland.