The Splendid Idle Forties: Stories of Old California

by Gertrude Atherton, Harrison Fisher

"Perhaps the best known collection of stories of that romantic period of California history when the incoming Americans were first intermingling with the Californians of rancho and presidio." - Zamorano

The Splendid Idle Forties: Stories of Old California" by Gertrude Atherton is a collection of historical narratives set in the vibrant and tumultuous period of mid-19th century California. Through its tales, the work captures the lives of characters navigating the complexities of societal change, cultural clash, and personal ambition in a land on the brink of transformation due to American interests. The opening of the book introduces an electrifying horse race day in Monterey, depicting a colorful scene filled with excitement and rivalry between Northern Californians and their Southern counterparts. Key figures include Pio Pico, the Governor of the Californias, and Don Vicente de la Vega, a striking guest from Los Angeles whose exotic horses challenge the local favorites. As the narrative unfolds, it hints at the cultural tensions brewing beneath the surface, notably the rising influence of American settlers and the complex social dynamics they disrupt. The beginning sets a compelling stage filled with romance, rivalry, and dreams, foreshadowing the personal and societal conflicts that will resonate throughout this collection.

Genres: Short Stories

412 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton (October 30, 1857 – June 14, 1948) was a prominent and prolific American author. Many of her novels are set in her home state of California. Her bestseller Black Oxen (1923) was made into a silent movie of the same name. In addition to novels, she wrote short stories, essays, and articles for magazines and newspapers on such issues as feminism, politics, and war. She was strong-willed, independent-minded, and sometimes controversial.

She wrote using the pen names Asmodeus and Frank Lin, a play on her middle name.

Reviews

[JanetM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Early 20th century sensationalistic fiction...

Pros
1. The book was, for me, really quite entertaining, mainly in the early stories however.
2. The descriptions of old California were really vivid and romantic, and I actually loved the aura of nostalgia that pervaded the earlier stories in particular.
3. I was also especially intrigued by the arrangement of the stories, which though unrelated to each other, often followed a kind of timeline and made reference to previous characters and events.

Cons
1. With the exception of Doña Eustaquia Ortega, I found every single character flat -- absolutely flat and characterless -- in fact, to the point that they were all idiots, men and women alike.
2. The first story was dramatic; the second, dramatic; the third, yeah, okay, I get the idea... The stories, one after the other, were very similar and monotonous. Repetitive.
3. More than anything else, I was bothered by the stories' increasingly anti-Catholic sentiments: most readers will likely not mind.

Atherton seems to have somehow been fixated with priests, either imposing terrible punishments as "penances" and humiliating her heroines, or being repressed by a vow of celibacy. But of course, that's a personal complaint. Whichever way though, I could do without.

Anyway, in short, I'd give three stars for the first half and two for the latter; and unfortunately, as the book failed to leave a last good impression, I have to give it a grand overall of two stars.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Drivel written by a society matron who could know nothing of the actual time period. Every story features a beautiful maiden who instantly falls in love with some dashing man that she sees from across the room. Their love might be frowned upon, so they maneuver carefully until they catch an opportune moment and declare their undying love and intent to marry immediately. Overwrought drama of some sort or another ensues. There's nothing of real life here - everyone sulks around either in the finest lace or brushed velvet studded with carefully wrought silver, nobody works except the Indians, who appear to be California's irrelevant servant class. If Atherton was any kind of feminist it certainly doesn't show here, the whole thing is an object lesson in anti-feminist crap. After the 5th story of torrid love at first sight I sent the book's electrons into the void. Project Gutenburg provides the ebook for free, for Gods sake don't pay for it.

[E.J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories sure have come along...these stories are very simple, parable-like vignettes. It’s difficult to tell if they are historically accurate. They don’t seem incredibly well researched. My intuition tells me that they reflect the sensibilities of the time they were written and not the time they are set. They are appropriate for young adults.

[Jeff Hobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read so far:

The pearls of Loreto --3
The bells of San Gabriel --2
The story of La Pérdida --2
The conquest of Doña Jacoba --3
The vengeance of Padre Arroyo --3
When the devil was well --2