Elsie Dinsmore (Original Elsie Classics) [Paperback]

Martha Finley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000 | Series: Original Elsie Classics (Book 1)

Living with her uncle's family on a southern plantation in the mid-nineteenth century, motherless eight-year-old Elsie finds it difficult to establish a relationship with her worldly father who seems indifferent to her religious principles.

Editorial Reviews

Review

There has been almost no character in American juvenile fiction which has attained more widespread interest and affection than 'Elsie.' --Ladies Home Journal, 1893 --This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.

From the Publisher

Hibbard Publications is dedicated to bringing Martha Finley's 28 books in Dodd Mead's originally published series of The Elsie Books to a new generation of young readers! Here they are, complete and unabridged. They will speak to the hearts of girls and young women as much today as they did when first published in the late 1800's. With no updating for today's reader, these classic originals give an honest view of the writing style and subjects of the nineteenth century American mind.

Martha Finley penned the adventures of Elsie Dinsmore, over more than 38 years, often using members of her own family for characterization. Truth, faith, religion, morality, and humanity are the underlying virtues woven throughout the storytelling of this extraordinary series of fiction for children.

As Miss Finley's stories evolve, Elsie Dinsmore is faced with a myriad of trials and tribulations. Elsie's devout faith and clear knowledge of Scipture enable her to persevere through each troublesome circumstance. As Elsie matures into a godly woman, so her unique family grows, adding to the lovable - and sometimes not so likeable - cast of Miss Finley's interesting characters.

In 1868, the New York firm of Dodd Mead released the first "Elsie" book, Elsie Dinsmore, becoming an instant bestseller. The successful series, The Elsie Books, was launched, making Finley one of the most renowned children's writers of her time, with book sales second only to Louisa May Alcott. By 1945, 5 million copies of volumes 1-12, alone, had been sold.

Hibbard Publications is honored to bring back this series of timeless classics, full of the family values and personal faith that are jeopardized in today's society. We hope The Elsie Books will inspire today's reader, as they have for generations, to find richer relationships with the members of their family and with the Lord. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158182064X
• ISBN-13: 978-1581820645
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elsie Dinsmore Surprise, May 27, 2004

By 

Phillip Stephens "dedthang" (Wilmer, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elsie Dinsmore (Original Elsie Classics) (Paperback)

I hadn't thought of Elsie Dinsmore in several years. I just found out recently that this was an entire series--approximately 25 volumes I think. The way I became acquainted with the book at all was I was at my grandparents house one day, prowling around in the barn. There was a room on one side that had a roof over it instead of just rafters and I climbed up there and found all kinds of amazing things. My father and Uncle and Aunt had all left stuff behind when they grew up and it was stored here. There was a copy of Elsie Dinsmore up there. The front and back of the book were missing and it was written back before they used acid-free paper and the pages were brittle but I carried that book home with me and read it and thought it was one of the best books I'd ever read. I was probably about 8 years old at the time (actually I've forgotten), but at any rate I was thrilled to find out this book was part of an entire series. I just found out tonight that they are available at Amazon.com and that pleases me very much.

I would like to point out that (I read several reviews) while some people refer to them as sappy and that Elsie was too sweet to be real, these books were written for children, young children and were written at a time in history when the idea was that the main character of a book (especially for kids) should be (Gasp! Shock!) -- likeable. And Elsie certainly was. These books are perfect for small children. They are books that can be read and/or shared by the entire family, especially if you read to your children before bedtime (which doesn't seem to happen too much these days) but rest assured you can tuck your child(ren) in and read aloud to them and not worry about profanity, sex or any of the other things that might be objectionable for young children. Also I'd like to mention, along these lines, there were other books written for kids that were also great. There was Trixie Belden the 13-year old detective -- about 25 volumes, Beverly Gray also 25 volumes (a newspaper reporter who had all kinds of adventures) but no sex, drugs or cursing and of course everyone knows about the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. And if you can find them, there were the Tom Swift books for boys -- about a teenage scientist who invented things like a rocket ship to fly to the moon, etc. I read some of these as a kid and loved them also.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but definately read the sequals!, February 17, 2006

By 

R. Packard (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elsie Dinsmore (Original Elsie Classics) (Paperback)

I first read this book when I was about 12. I can understand why some people would not like it. It is very Christian, Elsie is very weepy, and the story is somewhat melodramatic. However, taken along with the next 3 or 4 books, it is a wonderful series.

As a Catholic I do not agree with some of Elsie's beliefs, but I still enjoyed reading, and re-reading this book. Elsie's Christian faith is the essential ingredient in the plot of this and many of the following books.

In the first book, many of the extraneous characters are not well developed, not even Elsie's father, if memory serves. But the need to know the outcome of poor Elsie's fate drove me on. Over the course of the next three books, many of the characters are fleshed out. Especially, Mr. Travillia, Ms. Adelaide, Elsie's father, her cousins Arthur and Edward, as well as Elsie herself. The characters grow and the plot flourishes along with them. Many of the seemingly minor characters take on much more prominent roles, and many relationships are deepened and broadened.

These books must also be taken in historical, and social, context. Elsie is a wealthy white girl living in the pre-Civil War South. Again, in later books, Elsie's world develops, and is especially influenced by the War, as one will discover if one keeps reading.

This series is quite extensive, and although I loved the first four or five, books, I petered out after the books began to focus more on Elsie's children.

Overall, I would recommend this book, along with its sequels, to anyone looking for a good read (and cry). :)

61 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars a warning for parents, April 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Elsie Dinsmore (Elsie Books (Holly Hall)) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'll risk having my comments dismissed as the ravings of a sinful mind by my fellower reviewers who are impressed with this novel's Christian message because I'm sure that there some concerned parents out there who would appreciate knowing that this novel discusses Elsie's love for her father in language that many would consider more appropriate to an adult romance novel. I could say a great deal about the many problems, literary and otherwise, that I see in this book, but I'll settle for just providing a few examples of what I regard as its most troubling element so parents can judge for themselves before buying. "The little girl . . . was rehearsing again and again in her own mind all that had just passed between her papa and herself. She dwelt with lingering delight upon everything approaching to a caress, every kind word, every soothing tone of his voice, and then picturing to herself all that he might have done and said if those unwelcome visitors had not come . . . And half hoping that he would send for her when they had gone, she watched the clock and listened intently for every sound.. . . But her bedtime came . . . She lay awake for some time, thinking of his unwonted kindness, and indulging fond hopes for the future, and then fell asleep to dream that she was on her father's knee, and felt his arm folded lovingly about her, and his kisses warm upon her cheek. Her heart beat quickly as she entered the breakfast room the next morning. . .His cold and distant manner to her and his often repeated reproofs had so increased her natural timidity . . . He saw that she feared him, and to that feeling alone he gave credit for her uniform obedience. . . He had no conception of the intense, but now almost despairing love for him that burned in that little heart, and made the young life one longing, earnest desire and effort to gain his affection." And: "She admired her father, and loved him, 'oh so dearly,' as she often whispered to herself, but would she ever meet with anything like a return of her fond affection? There was an aching void in her heart which nothing else could fill . . Was her craving for affection never to be satisfied? . . . If I might climb on his knee now, and lay my head on his chest, and put my arms around his neck, and tell him how sorry I am that I have been naughty, . . .If he would forgive me, and kiss me . . . Or if I might only stand beside him and lay my head on his shoulder, and he would put his arm around me, it would make me so happy." Or: "Then for the first time he folded her in his arms and kissed her tenderly, saying in a moved tone, 'I do love you, my darling, my own little daughter,' . . . Her joy was too great for words, for anything but tears. 'Why do you cry so, my darling?' he asked, soothingly, stroking her hair, and kissing her again and again. 'Oh, papa! Because I am so happy, so very happy,' she sobbed." And then there is Mr. Travilla, Elsie's father's best friend (whom, if I'm not mistaken, she marries in a sequel despite his being at least 15 years older). Here's a nice scene with him: "As Elsie ran out into the hall, she found herself suddenly caught in Mr. Travilla's arms. 'A merry Christmas and a happy New Year! little Elsie,' he said , kissing her on both cheeks. 'Now I have caught you figuratively and literally, my little lady, so what are you going to give me, eh?' 'Indeed, sir, I think you've helped yourself to the only thing I have to give at present,' she answered with a merry silvery laugh. 'Nay, give me one, little lady,' said he, 'one such hug and kiss as I dare say your father gets half-a-dozen times in a day.' She gave it very heartily. 'Ah ! I wish you were ten years older," he said as he set her down. 'If I had been, you wouldn't have got the kiss,' she replied, smiling archly." Perhaps a little too "archly" for an 8 year old girl, in my opinion. I'm sure that many will not see anything troubling in such passages; however, I also know others who have thought that this novel depicts child/parent love in terms that border on erotic. You can judge for yourself. If you're looking for similar bestselling 19th century novels that teach young girls the lesson of Christian submission, consider Susan Warner's _The Wide, Wide World_ or Maria Cummins's _The Lamplighter_. They are far superior as literature to the Elsie books.