Fanny Herself [Abridged] [Audio Cassette]

Edna Ferber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2000

"Fanny Herself" is a delightful coming-of-age novel by Pulitzer Prize winner and Algonquin Round Table member Edna Ferber.

Ferber wrote "Fanny Herself," an autobiographical novel, in 1917. It tells the story of a spirited Jewish girl growing up in the Midwest in the beginning of the 20th century who dreamed of success and found much more. The heroine - Fanny Brandeis - is one of Ferber's great characters. She is tempted to deny her roots and is beset with family responsibilities. She is determined to be rich and wrenched by the plight of the poor. She longs for independence and continually seeks out true love.

If you like Jane Austen and Judy Blume, you will love Edna Ferber and "Fanny Herself."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Published in 1917 and 1913, respectively, these books represent early steps in Ferber's journey to her 1924 Pulitzer Prize. Fanny is the semiautobiographical story of a Jewish girl growing up in the Midwest. Roast Beef is the chronicle of Emma McChesney, a divorced mother and traveling sales rep for T.A. Buck's Featherloom Skirts and Petticoats. Both titles feature vintage illustrations and scholarly introductions.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Suzanne Toren's treatment of Ferber's story is sensitive and compassionate..." -- The Jewish Review (Portland, OR)

"This ... will introduce a whole new generation of listeners to a remarkable literary talent..." -- Midwest Book Review

"With eight sides of 'Fanny Herself' to enjoy, I found myself wishing my morning and evening rides were a bit longer." -- The Jewish Journal (Boston, MA)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette: 5 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Contemporary Classics Inc; Abridged edition (May 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893079023
• ISBN-13: 978-1893079021
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,464,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic that stands the test of time, February 18, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fanny Herself (Hardcover)

Last year I had to do a research paper about three American authors for an English class. I picked Edna Ferber as one of the authors, hoping that I would be able to relate better to a female author. I was at first skeptical about the book, because I'm not a big fan of classic books, but I sat down with it and after a few hours of convincing, I finally opened the book. To this day I'm still glad that I did. The story tells the tale of Fanny, a young independednt Jewish girl from a small midwestern town who's drive to become a business woman soon takes her from the small town she grew up in and plops her down in the middle of a large city where she takes a job as a sales lady, determined to prove herself. Through light humor and a playful tone Ferber shows the reader how Fanny at first struggles, but then succeeds in turning a thriving business completely around, and giving the company a whole new meaning to life. Though at first I didn't think this book would be any good at all, I encourage everyone who has ever strived for a goal in life to read this book--it will give you such a respect and admiration for Fanny that you won't be able to put it down until the very last page.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging, personal, affirming biography., May 4, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fanny Herself (The Modern Jewish Experience) (Hardcover)

The daughter of a Hungarian-born father and Milwaukee-native mother, Edna Ferber spent much of her childhood years in small midwestern towns. Her family, while not observant, always closed their store for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, never missing a Passover seder. Ferber felt that being Jewish was to be subjected to anti-Semitism. In 1917 she wrote Fanny Herself, based largely on the experiences she had while growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin and later in Chicago, Illinois. Her's is a tale of a young Jewish girl trying to become a successful businesswoman in early twentieth century America without denying her Jewish roots or subverting her social conscience. This newly abridged, four cassette, six hour audiobook edition (wonderfully narrated by Suzanne Toren) will introduce a whole new generation of listeners to a remarkable literary talent and an engaging, personal, affirming biography.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great character study, May 19, 2008

By 

Freelance Writer (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fanny Herself (Paperback)

I love Edna Ferber's work because she offers such a detailed look at her characters, and also succeeds in capturing a moment in time, place and history. The ending took quite a leap, for me, but overall I loved the book. Enjoy.