Customer Reviews

The Wide, Wide World

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Susan Warner's _The Wide, Wide World_ was first published in 1852 and is often acclaimed as America's first bestseller.
Its heroine, Ellen Montgomery, is her mother's sole companion, confidante, and spiritual prodigy. Ellen's father wisks the mother away under the pretense of taking her to a climate more favorable to her health. Her mother's last words to Ellen are "We must endure, but we must not rebel." Ellen is sent to her father's sister's house in the country. Miss Fortune is a pragmatic independent manager of a small farm. She takes Ellen in though she was not told of Ellen's coming. Ellen's
sensibilities are crushed by Miss Fortune's lack of sympathy
for Ellen's tastes. Ellen will find friends in the more genteel and conventionally religious neighbors, Alice and John Humphreys, who agree that Ellen would make a good wife for John when she grows up. Ellen's foil is the "wild girl" Nancy Vawse who roams the countryside and turns up to torment Ellen with her rough ways. When Ellen reaches her teens, she learns some very surprising news which precipitates a trip to Scotland. The intensly emotional and high-strung Ellen who "conquers her will" represents everything contemporary psychology and feminism denounce.

This book is a completely inspiring journey through the life of a young girl, Ellen. I am 17 years old and this book captivated me and encouraged me to strive in my walk with God and to be a joy to those around me. It is a wonderful book full of delightful adventures as well as sorrow. If you read it, you will laugh, cry, and be touched.

My mother first read me this wonderful story thirty years ago ani I have been reading it at least once a year since then. I loved the dwlightful descriptions of Ellens expierances and adventures and her demination to be a credit to her parents.Even though Ive read it so many times it nevert fails to delight charm and inspire me. If you are a family oriented young woman from six to sixty im sure this story will delight you as it did me. If you are a fan of L.M. Montgomary or Laura Ingills Wilder you will enjoy this as well.I have two copys an original published one hundred and twelve years ago and a more modern abriged version. I would be interested in hearing from others who like the same sort of literature. Is there anybody who can tell me where I can get a copy of The Lamplighter by the same author.

I stumbled on this book accidentally while looking for books by Ellen Montgomery, author of the Anne Of Green Gables series. I ordered it and frankly, when I received it, I wondered why I had ordered it and finally remembered my search for Ellen Montgomery books. I love this book! I recommend it to anyone who loves Victorian literature and also, loves the Bible. The language of the age in which it was written is one of my favorites. Those who love Jane Austen my appreciate this book. It is a pleasure to read and I won't be putting it aside to "finish later" as I do with some books. I hope you enjoy it and love it as I do if you decide to purchase it. Happy reading!

[...]

Horace Dinsmore, Edward Travilla, and Elsie Dinsmore all love this book, so I thought I'd have a look at it. I can see why the Dinsmores and Travillas love it. Much of it could have been taken from the pages of Elsie Dinsmore books. But the protagonist, Ellen Montgomery, has far more real problems than Elsie ever does. Whether or not they can be solved by an influx of money is immaterial, because the money isn't there to come in. At one point Ellen is reduced to serving as her aunt's housemaid, doing far more work than is appropriate for her age, which the best I can determine is about twelve then. But spiritual blessings turn into familial blessings, and then into financial blessings, and Helen's life finally plays out as it should. Interestingly, the book says nothing about her marriage, although any acute reader can tell who she marries as well as when and where. I enjoyed the book immensely but probably will not read it again.

A great encouragement for anyone who has been through a period of great difficulty. Strength and perseverance of the main character are astounding.

Are you a fan of Elsie Dinsmore, Stepping Heavenward, etc.? The Wide Wide World, of the same era, is a beautifully written book about a little girl named Ellen Montgomery. Join Ellen in her travels and trials, and learn from this truly Christian book.

This book is one of my favorites. I am glad to see several editions (hopefully not abridged!)available...I hope more people will read it. It was once widely read. Read it and find out why! My copy is hardcover in 2 volumes. It was more expensive, but this is one I definately am handing down to my daughters...trouble is I have three, so I guess I'll have to get a couple more copies:)

In a good way this book has had a big impact on me & I know I'll read it again and again. Like some before I don't understand the criticism at the end of the book. Read it for what it is, when it was written. If you like fiction from the old days you will love this - especially if you are a Christian, but I hope even if not you will read it because of the excellent writing.

I am a 14-year old girl, and I have read this book twice! It is exceptional in that it teaches good Christian values that are much needed in our society today. If everybody learned to die to themselves and have the self-control that Ellen did in the book, this world would be a much happier place. I dislike the feminists' biased criticism of the book, but I am thankful that they had the book reprinted.