Ahead of Her Time
Gene Stratton Porter was a well-known naturalist and Christian author in the late 1800s to the early1900s, writing Laddie, Freckles, The Magic Garden and others. Her novels focus on a protagonist placed in circumstances that try their character, Christian and personal values, and their resolve in advancing them.
Girl of the Limberlost was probably her most autobiographical work, along with Laddie. Mrs. Porter grew up on a farm in southern Indiana with a strong family. She had an early interest in the natural world around her, just like her protagonist, and lived as an adult near the real Limberlost Swamp. Feminists will like her insistence that women be given opportunities commensurate with their interests and abilities.
My favorite novel of hers is Laddie, apparently a tribute to her real-life brother. The Magic Garden actually has a magical feel to it, about a "poor little rich girl" befriended by a kindly old gentleman with an enchanting garden.
Her books are a treasure and linger in my soul long after they return to the shelf.
