THE SPLENDID IDLE FORTIES: Stories of Old California
New York: The Macmillan Company, 1902. First Edition. Hardcover. "As quoted by Lawrence Clark Powell, in his California Classics, bibliographer and historian Phil Townsend Hanna proclaimed Atherton’s Splendid Idle Forties as 'the finest stories ever written about early California.' While agreeing with Hanna, Powell went on to remark: 'Although romantic, mechanically plotted, and theatrical in characterization, they are nevertheless essentially faithful to history, landscape, and human motivation. They poignantly embody the drama of that crucial decade.' Her novel, along with Helen Hunt Jackson’s Ramona, gave us the popular and nostalgic Anglo-American view of Spanish California and its demise during the Gold Rush. As brought out in her novel, California, however, was not splendid for women as the ruling families and the church overly protected them, denied them worldly experience, and relegated them to subservient roles" (Gary Kurutz, The Zamorano 80 Collection of Daniel G.Volkmann Jr.). Illustrated with eight halftone plates by Harrison Fisher. Octavo. Original red cloth binding, with pictorial gilt, dark green, and white stamping. Some minor wear to the corners and tips, with two small stains to the rear board; otherwise very good. The Zamorano Eighty 1. Very good. Item #78317
Price: $100.00