Showing results by author "Edna Ferber" in All Categories

First published in 1926, Show Boat weaves the rich tapestry of the Hawks-Ravenal family across three generations and the enchanting Cotton Blossom Floating Palace Theatre as it journeys along the Mississippi River and beyond. Spanning the Reconstruction Era of the 1880s to the vibrant Gilded Age and Roaring Twenties, this timeless tale has captivated audiences through its adaptation into a Broadway musical in 1927 and various film versions, including both a silent film and a partial talkie in 1929. Please note, the narrative contains themes of race, particularly anti-Black stereotypes and ...

In Edna Ferbers debut novel, Dawn O’Hara, the Girl Who Laughed, we meet Dawn, a weary newspaperwoman from New York who finds herself back in her Michigan hometown on the advice of her doctor. After years of living in boarding houses and supporting her brilliant yet mentally ill husband, Peter Orme, Dawn feels like a shadow of her former self at just twenty-eight. With the loving support of her sister Norah and the charming attentions of the handsome German doctor, Ernst Von Gerhard, she begins to reclaim her zest for life. Securing a newspaper job in Milwaukee opens the door to new ...

Dive into the poignant story of Selina DeJong and her son, affectionately known as So Big. Following the tragic loss of her husband, Selina bravely takes on the challenge of raising So Big alone while also managing the family farm in rural Illinois. As So Big matures, he ventures into the bustling streets of 1920s Chicago, enticed by the allure of the high-stakes stock-broker lifestyle. Torn between his desire for wealth and the traditional values instilled by his mother—and the expectations of his love interest, an aspiring artist—So Big grapples with the conflict between ambition and ...

Ten classic public domain short stories offering a feminine perspective on work, written from 1868 to 1925 by an incredible lineup of authors. These works present an early and poignant perspective on the role of work in society and relationships and its effect on women.

Menant une vie mi-ordinaire, mi-luxueuse auprès de son père, Selina Peak découvre la valeur de l’art et de la beauté à un très jeune âge. Déterminée, à peine diplômée, âgée de 19 ans et afin de devenir maîtresse d’école, Selina change d’horizon et emménage à High Prairie, une communauté hollandaise à quelques kilomètres de Chicago. Étant persuadée de la véracité des propos tenus par son père « la vie n’est qu’une grande aventure », Selina se jette dans l’inconnu ! Ce chemin pris, sera-t-il Si Grand ? Découvrez-le dans ce magnifique audiobook, Prix Pulitzer du roman 1925.

"The Dancing Girls, and Other Stories" contains four short-stories by two-times Pulitzer Prize winner Edna Ferber, written between 1910 and 1919. The title story paints a pictures of small-town America and of life "on the other side of the tracks." "The Dancing Girls" is followed by "Old Lady Mandle," "Long Distance," and "One Hundred Percent." - Edna Ferber (1885-1968) was an American author.

"The Homely Heroine" is a short story by American author Edna Ferber. It features a writer whose heroines are generally extremely beautiful. But one day, whilst she is out shopping, a shop-keeper asks her why she doesn’t write stories about a homelier heroine. "The Homely Heroine" is followed by "A Bush League Hero," "What she Wore," and "The Man Who Came Back." - Edna Ferber (1885-1968) was an American author.

I started to read a story once. It was a good one. There was in it not a single allusion to brandy-and-soda, or divorce, or the stock market. The dialogue crackled. The hero talked like a live man. It was a shipboard story, and the heroine was charming so long as she wore her heavy ulster. But along toward evening she blossomed forth in a yellow gown, with a scarlet poinsettia at her throat. I quit her cold. Nobody ever wore a scarlet poinsettia; or if they did, they couldn't wear it on a yellow gown.

A man returns to his home town from prison. He hopes to sneak in, pay a quick visit and vanish before people recognize him. But this may not be possible. What happens to a man's soul after years in prison? Ferber explores this poignant and sad subject in this story. But the ending is full of hope.

Who ever heard of a plain and downright homely heroine? Isn't a heroine by definition beautiful? Well, Edna Ferber, in her well known style that later produced Show Boat and Giant, tells us about just such a heroine in this special short story. It is special to me because of her insight into the deep courage and faith of 'ordinary' people, people like most of us. And of course our failings and frailties and sometimes, the prince does not marry the right person. Yep.

Although the story is over 100 years old, it offers an important truth that is still relevant to the modern listener. Rather than rely on dialogue to advance the plot, noted American Edna Ferber is an exceptional storyteller who delights and entertains the listener with narrative. Her stories featuring strong heroines are as fresh and original today as when they were written.

Blanche Devine is a middle aged woman who has lived in the same small Midwestern town most of her life. She decides she wants to purchase a 'real' home in a pleasant neighborhood in the town. Because Blanche has a past as the town's 'scarlet' woman, many of the self-described good and respectable people do not want her as a neighbor. Edna Ferber wrote mostly about women and their place in society along with their plight when they did not follow society's norms.

War has always changed men physically and mentally. They go away as healthy physically fit young men; when they come back, if they do they are not the same young man who went away. They may have suffered disabling physical injury in addition to a mental injury that may or may not manifest itself physically, but typically it is there. In World War I they called it shell-shocked, today we call it PTSD. This is a short story by Edna Ferber of a healthy, husky, and slightly arrogant in a nice way young man, and the beautiful girl awaiting his return home.

A story of growth and responsibility through the person of an energetic grounded woman divided between work and art. First published in 1917.

An insightful story about a happily married woman who takes over her husband’s business upon his early death and creates a prospering business with seed capital from a childhood friend. She maintains her beliefs and avocations while doing the hard work of farming.

In the whimsical world of fairy tales, we often hear the phrase, they lived happily ever after. But what happens after the story ends? Once the enchantment fades and the glass slippers become worn, does the Prince ever find himself needing to remind Cinderella about her messy kitchen or her grammar? And after Puss in Boots has secured wealth and a bride for his master, does that gentleman not sometimes feel frustrated when neighbors refuse to acknowledge his lovely wife, born of humble beginnings? Buttered Side Down dares to explore these unanswered questions, offering a refreshing twist on ...

Discover the secrets to personal charm and influence with "Personality Plus" by Edna Ferber. This podcast explores the traits and habits that make individuals magnetic and engaging, offering practical advice for developing a compelling personality.