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Ester Ried #2
Julia Ried
Julia Ried is only sixteen when her mother's poor health forces her to leave the sheltering comfort of her childhood home and go to work as a bookkeeper. And yet, though she must live as a boarder in someone else's home, Julia is determined to make her way in the world, and make her mother proud!
But a new acquaintance, the flawless graceful Mrs. Tyndall, overwhelms the impressionable young woman with her wealth and beguiling chatter. Soon Julia is drawn into a whole new life, into a world of fashionable frolics and seductive snobbery. Even tragedy and heartbreak are not enough to cut through the pride and bitterness that seem to take over Julia's young heart.
Then she make an amazing God has not given up on her―and neither had the man he has chosen for her to marry.
Heartwarming stories of faith and love by Grace Livingston Hill's aunt―Isabella Alden. Each book is similar in style and tone to Hill's and is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
But a new acquaintance, the flawless graceful Mrs. Tyndall, overwhelms the impressionable young woman with her wealth and beguiling chatter. Soon Julia is drawn into a whole new life, into a world of fashionable frolics and seductive snobbery. Even tragedy and heartbreak are not enough to cut through the pride and bitterness that seem to take over Julia's young heart.
Then she make an amazing God has not given up on her―and neither had the man he has chosen for her to marry.
Heartwarming stories of faith and love by Grace Livingston Hill's aunt―Isabella Alden. Each book is similar in style and tone to Hill's and is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- GenresFictionChristian Fiction
277 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1872
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49 people want to read
About the author
Pansy
338 books31 followersNote: In her lifetime, Isabella Macdonald Alden was usually published under the pseudonym Pansy, and occasionally under the name Mrs. G.R. Alden.
Aunt to Grace Livingston Hill
The sixth of seven children born to Isaac and Myra Spafford Macdonald, of Rochester, New York, Isabella Macdonald received her early education from her father, who home-schooled her, and gave her a nickname - "Pansy" - that she would use for many of her publications. As a girl, she kept a daily journal, critiqued by her father, and she published her first story - The Old Clock - in a village paper when she was ten years old.
Macdonald's education continued at the Oneida Seminary, the Seneca Collegiate Institute, and the Young Ladies Institute, all in New York. It was at the Oneida Seminary that she met her long-time friend (and eventual co-author), Theodosia Toll, who secretly submitted one of Macdonald's manuscripts in a competition, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to the publication of her first book, Helen Lester, in 1865.
Macdonald also met her future husband, the Rev. Gustavus Rossenberg Alden, at the Oneida Seminary, and the two were married in 1866. Now Isabella Macdonald Alden, the newly-married minister's wife followed her husband as his postings took them around the country, dividing her time between writing, church duties, and raising her son Raymond (born 1873).
A prolific author, who wrote approximately one hundred novels from 1865 to 1929, and co-authored ten more, Alden was also actively involved in the world of children's and religious periodicals, publishing numerous short stories, editing the Sunday Juvenile Pansy from 1874-1894, producing Sunday School lessons for The Westminster Teacher for twenty years, and working on the editorial staff of various other magazines (Trained Motherhood, The Christian Endeavor).
Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with an estimated 100,000 copies of Alden's books sold, in 1900.
Information taken from:
readseries.com
isabellamacdonaldalden.com
Aunt to Grace Livingston Hill
The sixth of seven children born to Isaac and Myra Spafford Macdonald, of Rochester, New York, Isabella Macdonald received her early education from her father, who home-schooled her, and gave her a nickname - "Pansy" - that she would use for many of her publications. As a girl, she kept a daily journal, critiqued by her father, and she published her first story - The Old Clock - in a village paper when she was ten years old.
Macdonald's education continued at the Oneida Seminary, the Seneca Collegiate Institute, and the Young Ladies Institute, all in New York. It was at the Oneida Seminary that she met her long-time friend (and eventual co-author), Theodosia Toll, who secretly submitted one of Macdonald's manuscripts in a competition, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to the publication of her first book, Helen Lester, in 1865.
Macdonald also met her future husband, the Rev. Gustavus Rossenberg Alden, at the Oneida Seminary, and the two were married in 1866. Now Isabella Macdonald Alden, the newly-married minister's wife followed her husband as his postings took them around the country, dividing her time between writing, church duties, and raising her son Raymond (born 1873).
A prolific author, who wrote approximately one hundred novels from 1865 to 1929, and co-authored ten more, Alden was also actively involved in the world of children's and religious periodicals, publishing numerous short stories, editing the Sunday Juvenile Pansy from 1874-1894, producing Sunday School lessons for The Westminster Teacher for twenty years, and working on the editorial staff of various other magazines (Trained Motherhood, The Christian Endeavor).
Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with an estimated 100,000 copies of Alden's books sold, in 1900.
Information taken from:
readseries.com
isabellamacdonaldalden.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 30, 2014
Isabella Alden's books, though fiction, always leave me encouraged and strengthened in my walk with the Lord. Her love for the Lord brilliantly glows in her writing.
Julia Ried is probably my favorite of her books right after, Ester Ried. It's an encouraging read about the struggles of a sheltered young girl as she's thrust into a society that challenges her faith in God. Her journey to a deeper abiding in Christ is powerful and convicting.
Julia Ried is probably my favorite of her books right after, Ester Ried. It's an encouraging read about the struggles of a sheltered young girl as she's thrust into a society that challenges her faith in God. Her journey to a deeper abiding in Christ is powerful and convicting.
July 22, 2011
I read this book when I was 15 years old.
April 8, 2015
Touching, searching, Christian novel of a bygone era
March 6, 2015
An interesting look at how what we do influences others.
September 8, 2018
As others have said, my faith is encouraged, challenged, and strengthened by reading Isabella MacDonald Alden (Pansy)'s novels. She gives us strong characters who are agnostic, some who are nominal Christians, others are up and down in their faith, and some are deeply committed. The conversations these people have with each other about so many things relating to the Christian life as lived in the 1800's can all be paralleled in our own time. First published in 1872! I listened to this book read by a wonderful reader, and downloaded for free from LibriVox.org.
July 10, 2024
Second of six books in the Esther Ried series.
First one was in Latvian, others - aren't.
This book follows Esther's sister Julia (16), as she deals with temptations of worldliness and loses her joy and peace. Took me by surprise in a few places. Delightful and encouraging message.
First one was in Latvian, others - aren't.
This book follows Esther's sister Julia (16), as she deals with temptations of worldliness and loses her joy and peace. Took me by surprise in a few places. Delightful and encouraging message.
May 17, 2017
Read by TriciaG on LibriVox.com
November 25, 2021
I was fascinated by this book. On the surface it's about a young woman who must move to the city to earn her living. On the recommendation of Dr. Douglass, a family friend, she takes a room in Mrs. Tyndall's lodging house where he also lives. Since this is her first time away from her family, Julia has a lot to learn about the world and about herself and her faith. But what I found so fascinating is the way Isabella Alden showed the slow and insidious way Mrs. Tyndall brings Julia under her control. Watching Julia become almost disdainful of Dr. Douglass' Christian beliefs in her efforts to please Mrs. Tyndall was a real eye-opener and Isabella Alden carried it off brilliantly. As always, I finished the book with plenty to think about, like my own behavior and how well I influence others for Christ's sake. This is such a good book!
July 10, 2021
This book had been with me for about 8 years but I always found a way not to read it. I made the decision to finally read it about a month ago and whew, I've been taken on a ride. The truths found in this book is phenomenal. I've found myself applying some of these truths in my life. Thank you Ms Alden for this book. Really good.
June 20, 2023
Old fashioned but timeless. Extremely good lesson on serving Christ completely by completely loving people of all classes.
May 25, 2020
I loved this book! I doubt I ever read it again, though, as a second reading of this poor girl’s spiral downward would be agonizing. She just kept deliberately making the wrong decision!
This book taught great lessons! The story was good, too. Surprising at times, entertaining at others, and good lessons/morals throughout. I’m glad she married...ummm, well, who she married. I better not spoil it.
A very pleasant read, as all Pansy’s books are! ❤️
P.S—I read this book at age 17 and I could have read it sooner. I would recommend ages 12 and up. It is written in old style, of course, but not bad at all to understand.
This book taught great lessons! The story was good, too. Surprising at times, entertaining at others, and good lessons/morals throughout. I’m glad she married...ummm, well, who she married. I better not spoil it.
A very pleasant read, as all Pansy’s books are! ❤️
P.S—I read this book at age 17 and I could have read it sooner. I would recommend ages 12 and up. It is written in old style, of course, but not bad at all to understand.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews