California's Daughter: Gertrude Atherton and Her Times

by Emily W. Leider

This is the first biography of Gertrude Atherton, one of the most famous, outspoken, and successful novelists of her time. It emphasizes her place in the emergent debate on the place of women in society and her friendships with such figures as Ambrose Bierce and Gertrude Stein.

446 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Rosa]

Obviously I'm biased but I thought this book did an excellent job depicting Atherton in context, particularly considering the changes she saw over the course of her long life. It granted Atherton no sympathy for her bad art or harmful views, but it showed how she was both an exceptional person and a figure whose experiences reveal a lot about the American literary world and the perception of California inside the state and out. Overall a compelling argument to look at the gray area between makers of high art and pop culture.

[Kalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pioneer for women! She cracked me up - such spirit! A true feminist and makes me proud to be a woman.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was good incite into the life of a California author I often hear about but have never read, I must admit that this is the first time I've read a biography where I have questioned whether the author liked their subject.

I understand that Atherton was a bit of a controversial character (people seemed to either love her or hate her), and I certainly would not like to have the biographer sugar coat anything or display hero-worship, but the little jabs into the personality of someone long-gone seems a bit unfortunate. But then I like more objective views of people of the past, or pure historical fiction, one or the other.

If you are interested in the life of this Californian author/socialite/etc. then I would recommend reading this book. It is well researched and provides a good view of Atherton and where she fell in the social & literary circles of her day.

[Therese Wiese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting - California history with turn of the century details.