To be forgotten in the town where you came from is harsh. For many years my hometown overlooked Edna Ferber and her literary legacy. Now there is an elementary school named after her and a growing appreciation of her place in the American canon.
Mostly through a growing awareness brought by the local history museum which had long focused on Houdini who claimed Appleton as his hometown (and whom Edna Ferber interviewed as a reporter for the local newspaper when he returned home to visit his parents; his father a local rabbi before she became a novelist). The museum has her typewriter in its collection. I also think her novels are better than the movies made of them by Hollywood and may not be alone in that assessment as her career is now placed into a larger historical context.
Thanks, Iris! I appreciated the "update." I read the Walker essay soon after it came out, and it is interesting to see what has and what hasn't changed since she wrote that essay. I really appreciated seeing the black leader's response at her death -- a different story honoring her accomplishments where financial success is not the mark of a writer.
Another great post, Iris! And thanks for mentioning Alice Walker's essay, which I didn't know about. I found it on the internet - here, in case someone else wants to read it. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.allisonbolah.com/site_resources/reading_list/Walker_In_Search_of_Zora.pdf
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Zora. She sure didn't have an easy life and I wish she could have had at least a taste of some of the recognition she earned, after her lifetime. I'm familiar with the story of how Alice Walker almost singlehandedly revived her legacy — kind of like what you're doing with Sonora Babb! Do you think some of Babb's other works, in addition to Whose Names are Unknown, are gaining more readers since your biography came out?
So glad you enjoyed it! I hope more people are reading her other books! I do often get contacted by people who still remember reading AN Owl on Every Post when it first came out in 1970.
I love this post, Iris. Today while revising a chapter about education and my work in libraries, I mentioned the Walker essay you cite, and the electrifying Hurston volume for which it was the foreword. I watched the PBS doc in 2022 and have wondered about her lost years, the period after mother died and before she began work with Boas (after lying about her age).
How amazing that you were just thinking of Walker’s essay. Her reclamation story of Hurston was one of the first times I’d ever heard of a woman reclaiming a woman’s life. It’s inspired me ever since!
Oh, thank you for taking us along on your journey, Iris.....I love learning more about wonderful writers like Zora Neal Hurston.....I read and studied her work when I was J J Wilson's student back in 80's at Sonoma State....now I want to go to the Sitting Room and borrow them and reread them.
what an amazing book tour -- and pilgrimage
Thank you, Mary!!! It was truly amazing.
To be forgotten in the town where you came from is harsh. For many years my hometown overlooked Edna Ferber and her literary legacy. Now there is an elementary school named after her and a growing appreciation of her place in the American canon.
That is amazing! How did that recovery come to happen?
Mostly through a growing awareness brought by the local history museum which had long focused on Houdini who claimed Appleton as his hometown (and whom Edna Ferber interviewed as a reporter for the local newspaper when he returned home to visit his parents; his father a local rabbi before she became a novelist). The museum has her typewriter in its collection. I also think her novels are better than the movies made of them by Hollywood and may not be alone in that assessment as her career is now placed into a larger historical context.
Can’t wait to read her novels! I wonder if Lost Ladies of Lit have done a podcast on her yet? Which novel would you recommend I start with?
and yes Lost Ladies of Lit did do an episode https://www.lostladiesoflit.com/podcast/175-hiatus-encore-edna-ferber-so-big-with-dr-caroline-frick
So Big. Or if you haven't seen the musical (which doesn't do the novel justice) Show Boat. Giant is also a classic.
Thanks, Iris! I appreciated the "update." I read the Walker essay soon after it came out, and it is interesting to see what has and what hasn't changed since she wrote that essay. I really appreciated seeing the black leader's response at her death -- a different story honoring her accomplishments where financial success is not the mark of a writer.
By the way this is Carol Dorf -- I'm not sure why Nathan's name is listed when I sign into your substack.
Yes! It’s touching to hear about how much her community took care of her in the end.
Another great post, Iris! And thanks for mentioning Alice Walker's essay, which I didn't know about. I found it on the internet - here, in case someone else wants to read it. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.allisonbolah.com/site_resources/reading_list/Walker_In_Search_of_Zora.pdf
Thank you! And thank you for sharing the link to the article!
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Zora. She sure didn't have an easy life and I wish she could have had at least a taste of some of the recognition she earned, after her lifetime. I'm familiar with the story of how Alice Walker almost singlehandedly revived her legacy — kind of like what you're doing with Sonora Babb! Do you think some of Babb's other works, in addition to Whose Names are Unknown, are gaining more readers since your biography came out?
So glad you enjoyed it! I hope more people are reading her other books! I do often get contacted by people who still remember reading AN Owl on Every Post when it first came out in 1970.
I love this post, Iris. Today while revising a chapter about education and my work in libraries, I mentioned the Walker essay you cite, and the electrifying Hurston volume for which it was the foreword. I watched the PBS doc in 2022 and have wondered about her lost years, the period after mother died and before she began work with Boas (after lying about her age).
How amazing that you were just thinking of Walker’s essay. Her reclamation story of Hurston was one of the first times I’d ever heard of a woman reclaiming a woman’s life. It’s inspired me ever since!
Oh, thank you for taking us along on your journey, Iris.....I love learning more about wonderful writers like Zora Neal Hurston.....I read and studied her work when I was J J Wilson's student back in 80's at Sonoma State....now I want to go to the Sitting Room and borrow them and reread them.
Love that you learned about her through J.J.! Looking forward to seeing you at the reading!