THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

The novel portrays a fictional account onWomen’s Suffrage, 1890's,

in, New York.

 

The Fletcher family owns a violet farm in the Hudson Valley.  The two older brothers, William and Harold own the farm.  Frank, the youngest brother, only works the farm to repay a debt from years before.

Although Frank and Ida, his wife, do most of the labor, along with hired help, Frank’s wages do not allow him to catch up, nor will he ever be able to pay back his debt, as his brothers intend.  Though Ida is still nursing her youngest child, she also serves as a wet nurse to help offset their debts.  After Frank brings Ida babies for her to nurse with scanty information about their mothers, she becomes suspicious.

Alice, their sixteen year old daughter, who also works on the farm, plans to become a teacher.

The longer the brothers punish Frank, the more indignant and angry he becomes. Consumed by rage, Frank devises a plan to pay off his debts, and take back his rightful place on the farm.

One season, Joe Jacobs joins the hired workers.  He is young, handsome, the son of a minister, and has eyes for Alice.  Ida sees a bright future for her daughter, but Frank has different plans for Alice, plans he intends to hide from his wife.

 

Czepiel’s delivers the message that though men wield power, women can and do succeed as well.