A Weaver of Dreams

by Myrtle Reed

First edition.

Genres: Fiction, Classics

374 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Myrtle Reed/Mrs McCullough (1874-1911) was an American author, the daughter of Elizabeth Armstrong Reed and the preacher Hiram von Reed. She sometimes wrote under the pseudonym of Olive Green. She was born in Chicago, where she graduated from the West Division High School. In 1906 she was married to James Sydney McCullough.

She wrote under her own name, but also published a series of cook books under the pseudonym of Olive Green, including What to Have for Breakfast (1905), One Thousand Simple Soups (1907) and How to Cook Fish (1908).

Myrtle was a diagnosed insomniac with prescribed sleeping drafts. She died August 17, 1911 of an overdose of sleeping powder taken with suicidal intent in her flat, called "Paradise Flat" at 5120 Kenmore Ave., Chicago, Illinois. The following day, her suicide letter, written to her maid, Annie Larsen, was published.

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at Half-Price Books the other day. Seems to be a first edition of a totally obscure 1911 romance novel, written and published the year Reed died of an overdose. No idea what it's about, but it starts out with "The road was hot and dusty, but, nevertheless, it allured. Beginning in the hopeless ugliness of a small town's main street, it turned a corner at the postoffice and wandered forth, lazily, at its own capricious will." I can't wait to read it.

[Anne Herbison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for its art nouveau cover, to put with my small collection of very old books. Then, during lockdown, I picked it up to read. It is terribly overwritten, very much of its time (published in 1911), heavy with metaphor, but caught me up anyway. Plenty of feminist overtones in its discussion of relationships between men and women and the sharing of work. Researching the author's life is worth while.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of the three books I own by Myrtle Reed, this is my least favorite. Too much time is spent philosophizing and rhapsodizing.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖍️ Lovely story with just as charming writing and believable plot. I enjoyed this. This story was made into a film in 1918, and it is considered a lost film. It starred Viola Dana and Clifford Bruce.

📕Published in 1906.

જ⁀🟢The e-book version can be found on the Project Gutenberg website.
🟣 Kindle.
✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎

🖋️ About Myrtle Reed: Born in Norwood Park, Illinois September 27, 1874. She passed away at her apartment 5120 N. Kenmore, Chicago (suicide) August 17, 1911 and was buried at Graceland Cemetery. 🪦Some more information about Myrtle Reed can be found on this link at Find a Grave.

[Dystopian Mayhem · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author’s personal views on love and marriage are very obvious in her writing, the result is a gloomy story with unpleasant surprise and unsatisfying ending. This is the last book I will read by this author.

[Chrystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read. I found the predictability charming. The finish hopeful.
I am sure to revisit this book again.

[Jennifer Cusumano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very "sweet," very romantic, very nostalgic, very unbelievable; but then, it was a very different age.

[Patricia Cochrane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second reading

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

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