Her Father's Daughter Author:Gene Stratton-Porter 1921. Stratton-Porter was an American feminist, environmentalist, photographer and one of Indiana's most famous female authors. Many of her writings were moralistic and romantic novels. The popular author seems to have gone awry with this particular novel, which tells the story of two orphaned sisters (who it later turns out are not really siste... more »rs). The introductory paragraphs set the tone: What makes you wear such funny shoes? Linda Strong thrust forward a foot and critically examined the narrow vamp, the projecting sole, the broad, low heel of her well-worn brown calfskin shoe. Then her glance lifted to the face of Donald Whiting, one of the most brilliant and popular seniors of the High School. Her eyes narrowed in a manner habitual to her when thinking intently. Never you mind my shoes, she said deliberately. Kindly fix your attention on my head piece. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.« less
Unlike some of Stratton-Porter's other charming fiction, this is blatantly racist and anti-Japanese. It was a shock for me to read this as a kid after having read Girl of the Limberlost.
I will warn you now: this is NOT "Girl of the Limberlost". I wish Gene Stratton-Porter had never come to California or set one of her stories there. Her beautiful descriptions of unspoiled land around Los Angeles are ruined by very shallow characterization, and racism as poisonous as Hitler's. This book stayed out of print and off shelves for good reason. If you are a Stratton-Porter collector or accustomed to reading shocking viewpoints of that period, have at it. Most readers will be insulted.
This survival adventure switches back and forth between the Stone Age and the present day (the 1980s). If you're interested in prehistoric man, archeology or spelunking, you'll be fascinated. Much effort was made to flesh out the characters of the modern-day cave explorers. However, the most memorable and haunting passages are those set during the prehistoric people's ordeal.