Hell's Belles: A Tribute to the Spitfires, Bad Seeds & Steel Magnolias of the New and Old South [Paperback]

Seale Ballenger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

Bad seeds, belles-lettres, rule breakers, shreiking violets, bar belles- how could any collections of impudent sketches that celebrates and lampoons the American Southern bell go wrong? Most of the women on these pages are instantly recognizable. Among those whose exploits or imagination vaulted them to fame are writers Carson McCullers and Anne Rice; emancipator Harriet Tubman; actress and one-time town owner Kim Basinger; ex-black Panther Angela Davis; 30's outlaw Bonnie Parker; and mascara maven Tammy Faye Baker. A few little-knowns and relative newcomers have elbowed their way on stage, too.

From Mama to Mammy, from Scarlett to Blanche, HELL'S BELLES (often exclaimed in mock piety and defining generations of Southern women) is hilarious and loving tribute to the famous and infamous females of ol' Dixie. This diverse collections features more than 200 women-aristocratic to poverty stricken, well-bred to ill-mannered, from Virginia to Texas (the heart of the Confederacy)- who have one thing in common: a uniquely Southern take on life and a strength and a strength of character molded by their roots.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Bad seeds, belles-lettres, rule breakers, shrieking violets, bar belles--how could any collection of impudent sketches that celebrates and lampoons the American Southern belle go wrong? Most of the women on these pages are instantly recognizable. Among those whose exploits or imagination vaulted them to fame are writers Carson McCullers and Anne Rice; emancipator Harriet Tubman; actress and one-time town owner Kim Basinger; ex-Black Panther Angela Davis; '30s outlaw Bonnie Parker; and mascara maven Tammy Faye Baker. A few little-knowns and relative newcomers have elbowed their way on stage, too: Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard out of Carolina; Anna Edson Taylor, the first barrel-rider over Niagra Falls; and women's basketball star Luisa Harris-Stewart.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573240966
• ISBN-13: 978-1573240963
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,328,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Parochialism? No, just good fun, July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hell's Belles: A Tribute to the Spitfires, Bad Seeds & Steel Magnolias of the New and Old South (Paperback)

I admit it, the enchanting cover photo of Vivien Leigh (Scarlett O'Hara) compelled me to buy this book..but I was also intrigued by the sales-pitch blurb on the back cover. Inside, I was pleasantly surprised, with many of my favourite southern gals featured, including Selena, Anne Rice, Margaret Mitchell, Carson McCullers. Hell's Belles is written in exuberant tabloid style (witness the title!)and contains interesting anecdotes and fascinating accounts of Southerners, most of whom I've never heard of but leave me wanting to know more..luckily, Ballenger provides a list of references. The only thing that left me feeling a bit miffed is some blatant Women's press advertisment at the back - as if we need reminding of 'role models' and 'empowerment'and other genderist stuff to feel good about ourselves! Subtle it is not. And one question - drag queens are belles, yes? but Truman Capote?

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Be Fooled By Scarlett O'Hara on the Cover, February 13, 2006

By 

Southern CA Belle "Susie" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hell's Belles: A Tribute to the Spitfires, Bad Seeds & Steel Magnolias of the New and Old South (Paperback)

I bought this book because I loved the cover. Admittedly, I didn't do much research about it, but wish I had. This book is anything but about true Southern Belles. There are a few women in this book who might fit the real description, but even they are marred by the author's insistence on revealing all the negative and dark side of these women. Don't be fooled..this book is not about true Southern Belles. I was born, and raised partially, in the South and was taught that a true Southern Belle is a woman who embraces her feminity, is proud of her heritage, passes on traditions and always conducts herself like a lady. That definition seems to upset the author because she includes many women who are anything but Southern Belles. Just because a person was born in the South doesn't make them a Southern Belle. The author seems to think that just by virtue of being Southern born, that makes one a "Belle." Her book proves just the opposite. Then when I finished the book, I saw that the publisher is located in Berkeley, CA (surprise!) and is associated with a group called The Wild Women Association, also out of Berkeley. If you are looking for a book about true Southern Women, a.k.a, Belles, I suggest you read Ronda Rich's book, "What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should)" or Deborah Ford's "G.R.I.T.S. - Girls Raised in the South."

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, December 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Hell's Belles: A Tribute to the Spitfires, Bad Seeds & Steel Magnolias of the New and Old South (Paperback)

This is a great little find. There are some great quotes and it's just plain fun. Who ever knew that there were pirate belles or native american belles, American revolution and confederate spy belles.