Elsie's Motherhood [Hardcover]

Martha Finley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1993

Ion, the Travillas' home, is about to be the center of joyous family reunion once again as Edward and Elsie celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary renewing their vows amongst family and friends. Soon afterwards, young Edward Jr. is about to learn a valuable lesson on obedience when his father's life is mercifully spared after a careless shooting episode. Along with the echo of the last gun of the Civil War, comes opportunity for Elsie and Edward to share their faith in Christ with those who were hit hardest from the devastation of the Civil War. Besides offering financial aid and comfort, they become involved in a cause to protect the innocent from a new post-war enemy of terrifying marauders set on the path of destruction. Meanwhile, Elsie's newly discovered Cousin Ronald from Scotland appears on the scene with a special talent and joins them in their campaign against the persecution of innocence.

Elsie's Motherhood is the fifth book in the original, unabridged nineteenth century Martha Finley classic, the Elsie Dinsmore Series. These books are best when read in order.

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, April 1893

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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 348 pages
• Publisher: Vision Forum, Inc. (December 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889128058
• ISBN-13: 978-1889128054
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,261,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I think this is a very well-written book about Elsie., May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Elsie's Motherhood (The Elsie Books #5) (The Elsie Books, 5) (Paperback)

I love all of the Elsie Dinsmore books, but this is one of my favorites. Elsie Dinsmore Travilla makes a wonderful Christian parent along with her husband Edward. Their children are not perfect, just like all of mankind, and yet they train their children in a godly way. As always, one can see how Elsie puts her faith in God, especially when the Ku Klux Klan attacks their house in the intent to harm her husband, and when her eldest child, Elsie, becomes very sick. Also, she learns to grieve for herself and for others, yet rejoice for those who are Christians and have only gone before to that wonderful place called heaven. I recommend this book to girls and ladies of all ages, mothers, married, and single.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Elsie Book, January 12, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Elsie's Motherhood, Book 5 (Original Elsie Classics) (Paperback)

"Elsie's Motherhood" is one of my favorite Elsie books. Elsie is a good mother to her children, and her children are very virtuous and obedient. I think Elsie handles her children's problems very well. I enjoyed reading this book, and it is very well-written for girls of all ages.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars For those who like Christianity shoved down their throats..., October 9, 2011

By 

Hane "Hane" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Elsie's Motherhood (Kindle Edition)

First of all, I love most 19th-century fiction, preachy though much of it is. I grew up on Louisa May Alcott and Charles Dickens, who had a gift for bringing their readers into their worlds, and for showing, not telling, young readers how to live an upright life.

And then there's Martha Finley's Elsie oeuvre. Allow me to lay out the plotlines in each of the books in this series: 1) A child does something Bad. 2) Rigorous discipline follows. 3) The child remains rebellious. 4) More rigorous discipline ensues. 5) The child finally admits to his/her wrongdoing and begs for forgiveness. 6) The child's abuser--I mean, male authority figure--magnanimously lays on the forgiveness, and makes all the unpleasantness go away. This device occurs over and over again, multiple times, in each of the Elsie books.

In the Elsie books, there are only two kinds of characters: born-again Christians, who are uniformly Good, and everyone else, who is, without exception, Bad--slacktwisted, equivocal about honesty, and self-indulgent (and who will certainly burn in hell).

It seems that many people are fond of the Elsie books and look forward to inflicting them on--I mean, sharing them with--their own children. If you are one of these people, I encourage you to have an ongoing discussion with your child about them. Ask, "Why do you think the black characters are portrayed the way they are? Do you think it shows any respect for these characters and their lives and struggles? Tell me what you think about Elsie's relationship with her father. Don't you think it's a little, well, much?"