Fatal Flowers: On Sin, Sex, and Suicide in the Deep South

by Rosemary Daniell

The disturbing chronicle of Rosemary Daniell's transition from a passive young girl to a modern woman explores the myths of white male supremacy and the pampered Southern belle.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, History, Feminism, Womens, Southern

305 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1980

About the author

Rosemary Daniell's new book, Secrets of the Zona Rosa: How Writing (and Sisterhood) Can Change Women's Lives, was published by Henry Holt and Company in May, 2006. Its prequel, The Woman Who Spilled Words All Over Herself: Writing and Living the Zona Rosa Way, was published by Faber & Faber, in 1997. Her revolutionary memoir, Fatal Flowers: On Sin, Sex and Suicide in the Deep South (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1980; Henry Holt & Company, 1989; Hill Street Press, 1999) won the 1999 Palimpsest Prize for a most-requested out-of-print book, and was re-issued that same year. Along with her second memoir, Sleeping with Soldiers (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1984; Hill Street Press, 2003), it was a forerunner of the current memoir trend. She is the author of five other books of poetry and prose, including and her collection of essays, Confessions of a (Female) Chauvinist (Hill Street Press, 2001), a novel, The Hurricane Season (William Morrow & Company, 1992); two collections of poetry, A Sexual Tour of the Deep South (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1975; Push Button Publishing, 1994) and Fort Bragg & Other Points South (Henry Holt & Company, 1987).

Among her awards are two N.E.A. Fellowships in creative writing, one in poetry, another in fiction. In addition, her features and reviews have appeared in numerous magazines and papers, including Harper’s Bazaar, New York Woman, Mademoiselle, The New York Times Book Review and Mother Jones; she has also been a guest on many national radio and television shows, such as Merv Griffin, Donahue, The Diane Rehm Show, Larry King Live and CNN’s “Portrait of America.” She is profiled in the book Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975. In 2008, she received a Governor’s Award in the Humanities for her impact on the state of Georgia; early in her career, she instigated and led writing workshops in women's prisons in Georgia and Wyoming, served as program director for Georgia's Poetry in the Schools, and worked for a dozen years in Poetry in the Schools programs in Georgia, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

Also known as one of the best writing coaches in the country, she is the founder and leader of Zona Rosa, a series of creative writing workshops in Savannah and Atlanta, and cities throughout the world, as described in People and Southern Living magazines, and attended by such outstanding writers as John Berendt, Bruce Feiler, Pat Conroy, Cassandra King, and Eric Haney. To date, almost 60 Zona Rosans have become published authors. For further information, see Rosemary’s web page at www.myzonarosa.com.


“Rosemary Daniell is one of the great writing teachers I’ve seen at work in the country.” – Pat Conroy

“Rosemary Daniell is enormously gifted. Her work is risky – in the best sense of the word. She is one of the women by whom our age will be known in times to come.” – Erica Jong

“She has…proved just how earthy, inspiring, and even rapturous her take on the creative process can be.” – People

Reviews

[Theresa Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this gorgeous and amazing book years ago. Perhaps 15 years ago and now I'm finally reviewing it. The absolutely stunning cover art is what made me stop in my tracks and buy it in the bookstore. I think it was when I was wandering around the glorious stacks at the now closed down CAMERON'S BOOKSTORE. When I began reading it, I could not put it down. Daniels writes with stunning immediacy and candor about her young life and how she struggled to create a life for herself in the chauvinist world of the Deep South. How forced enema's were standard for girls and boys as the cure for an upset stomach, a form of rape all on its own. I've always been fascinated with the Deep South and one day hope to go there. My fantasy is that I am able to go on a three month tour, but be that as it may, this book is like a tour in itself. It is one of the most entertaining and educational books you'll ever read. It is of course part of my permanent collection and always will be. I often tell a story about how a friend asked if they could borrow it and I had to say no. The fact is, a borrowed book is a given book, and I was not willing to lose that book, so I had to say, no. In any event, this is a fabulous book that delves into the sometimes strange and unusual customs of the Deep South. Highly recommended!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir illuminates Rosemary Daniell's journey from Southern belle-in-training to feminist. By recounting her mother's life and death as well as the lives of a pantheon of Southern female archetypes, Daniell explains how she literally found her voice to express her long suppressed anger.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting account of a woman who grows up in the repressive environment in the Southern U.S. of the mid-20th century, and breaks free of this repression through sexual experimentation.

[Bronwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really liked it, but it hit too close to home to finish.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Rosemary's evocation of the South. She taught me a lot about Southern men in here, and I trust her.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

no holds bar memoir - first part dealt with childhood in Atlanta and surrounding areas, but most dealt with family and the search for love and confusing it with sex, lots and lots of sex; Sleeping with Soldiers; and Confessions of a Female Chauvinist, The Hurricane Season - first novel, fictional account that was somewhat duplicating Fatal Flowers - aspiring artist Easter O'Brian becomes pregnant with fisherman, marries a car salesman, moves to New Orleans, has more children, and experiences all there is in her creative and sexual awakening - answers the question of what would have happened if Edna Pontellier had not taken the big dip

[Tara Crisan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written evocative book about an intelligent and talented young woman suffering tragically low self esteem due to a seriously sociosexuality dysfunctional family, abuse and her mother's suicide. But it does NOT depict the Southern experience anymore than south Boston illuminates the New England experience.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of a memoir. Candid, even crude but does not make me feel for her. And becomes disjointed stories of people she met meant to support her argument about how southern patriarchy harm. Probably more effective near its time.

[Doti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic and troubling picture of dysfunction and the impact on mothers and daughters.

[Juicy_Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows us the dark side of the southern belle.

[Debora · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got 1/2 way thru and it was too depressing and explicit in its story of lifelong neglect & abuse. She has a story to tell, and writes well but I could not read further.

[Ujjvala (Vaiju) Bagal - Rahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure - Rosemary Daniell has been my coach and mentor for the many years I have been a member of her writing group Zona Rosa. I re-read this book every few years.

Fatal Flowers is her memoir of Southern womanhood among white women of certain economic classes in Atlanta, from the early 50s through the rise of 70s feminism. I know there are people who would state that this story is not true for everyone in the South. My husband is a Southerner from Savannah, whose family is generations of farmers, blue-collar workers, and enlisted military, so their history is different - yet I have also noticed restricted expectations of women in that milieu.

I was raised in the Northeast and in the Midwest, and I was more like the northern women Daniell encountered during her third marriage to a Northerner.

Let me tell you, Daniell writes the way she is. Her writing is muscular, vivid, and deeply honest. It is a powerful narrative of claiming the freedom to be one's true self, no matter how long it takes or hard it can be. This is the book that inspired people (women and men) to join Zona Rosa.

[Mary Dayhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty.