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Ellen; or, The Fanatic's Daughter

Ellen; or, The Fanatic's Daughter is an 1860 plantation fiction novel written by Mrs. V.G. Cowdin.

Ellen; or, The Fanatic's Daughter
Title page of the original 1860 text
AuthorMrs. V.G. Cowdin
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenrePlantation literature
PublisherS.H. Goetzel & Co.
Publication date
1860
Media typePrint (Hardcover & Paperback) & E-book
Pagesc.300 pp (May change depending on the publisher and the size of the text)

Overview

Ellen is one of several examples of Anti-Tom literature, a literary subgenre that emerged in the Southern United States in response to the 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which had been criticised in the South as inaccurately depicting slaveholding and the attitudes of slaveowners in general.[1]

Like other anti-Tom novels such as The Planter's Northern Bride by Caroline Lee Hentz,[2] Ellen acts largely as a criticism of abolitionism rather than a defence of slavery, highlighting the corruption within abolitionist movements such as the Underground Railroad.[3]

Plot

The story follows Ellen, the daughter of a Southern mother from Louisiana and a Northern father. Ellen's father quickly leaves his family shortly after the birth of his daughter, and it is discovered shortly afterward that he is an abolitionist.

Ellen, now older and wishing to find her father, sets off into the Northern United States where she discovers numerous atrocities being committed by the Northerners that far outrank the South in terms of oppression and cruelty. All Northern women are portrayed as foul-tempered shrews who abuse their white servants worse than black slaves, and all men are portrayed as being scheming, greedy capitalists.

It is during her travels that Ellen comes across Parson Blake, an evil abolitionist priest who encourages abolitionism more to steal Southern wealth rather than to aid runaway slaves. Blake attempts several sinister schemes to deter Ellen from returning home, but Ellen luckily escapes his clutches and returns home safely to Louisiana.

Publication history

Ellen was first published in novelised form by S.H. Goetzel & Co. of Mobile, Alabama in 1860. Reaction to the novel is unknown, although one surviving copy of the work – currently in the care of the University of Virginia – bears a stamp indicating that the novel was on sale in Boston.[3]

Ellen was among the last anti-Tom novels to be published, with the genre dying out by the end of 1860.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Uncle Tom's Cabin Summary - eNotes.com". eNotes.
  2. ^ "Hentz Homepage". utc.iath.virginia.edu.
  3. ^ a b "Cowdin's Ellen". utc.iath.virginia.edu.
  4. ^ "Anti-Toms Homepage". utc.iath.virginia.edu.

External links

  • Ellen at the University of Virginia

ellen, fanatic, daughter, 1860, plantation, fiction, novel, written, cowdin, title, page, original, 1860, textauthormrs, cowdincountryunited, stateslanguageenglishgenreplantation, literaturepublishers, goetzel, publication, date1860media, typeprint, hardcover,. Ellen or The Fanatic s Daughter is an 1860 plantation fiction novel written by Mrs V G Cowdin Ellen or The Fanatic s DaughterTitle page of the original 1860 textAuthorMrs V G CowdinCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenrePlantation literaturePublisherS H Goetzel amp Co Publication date1860Media typePrint Hardcover amp Paperback amp E bookPagesc 300 pp May change depending on the publisher and the size of the text Contents 1 Overview 2 Plot 3 Publication history 4 References 5 External linksOverview EditEllen is one of several examples of Anti Tom literature a literary subgenre that emerged in the Southern United States in response to the 1852 novel Uncle Tom s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe which had been criticised in the South as inaccurately depicting slaveholding and the attitudes of slaveowners in general 1 Like other anti Tom novels such as The Planter s Northern Bride by Caroline Lee Hentz 2 Ellen acts largely as a criticism of abolitionism rather than a defence of slavery highlighting the corruption within abolitionist movements such as the Underground Railroad 3 Plot EditThe story follows Ellen the daughter of a Southern mother from Louisiana and a Northern father Ellen s father quickly leaves his family shortly after the birth of his daughter and it is discovered shortly afterward that he is an abolitionist Ellen now older and wishing to find her father sets off into the Northern United States where she discovers numerous atrocities being committed by the Northerners that far outrank the South in terms of oppression and cruelty All Northern women are portrayed as foul tempered shrews who abuse their white servants worse than black slaves and all men are portrayed as being scheming greedy capitalists It is during her travels that Ellen comes across Parson Blake an evil abolitionist priest who encourages abolitionism more to steal Southern wealth rather than to aid runaway slaves Blake attempts several sinister schemes to deter Ellen from returning home but Ellen luckily escapes his clutches and returns home safely to Louisiana Publication history EditEllen was first published in novelised form by S H Goetzel amp Co of Mobile Alabama in 1860 Reaction to the novel is unknown although one surviving copy of the work currently in the care of the University of Virginia bears a stamp indicating that the novel was on sale in Boston 3 Ellen was among the last anti Tom novels to be published with the genre dying out by the end of 1860 4 References Edit Uncle Tom s Cabin Summary eNotes com eNotes Hentz Homepage utc iath virginia edu a b Cowdin s Ellen utc iath virginia edu Anti Toms Homepage utc iath virginia edu External links EditEllen at the University of Virginia This article about an 1860s novel is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it See guidelines for writing about novels Further suggestions might be found on the article s talk page vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ellen or The Fanatic 27s Daughter amp oldid 938385078, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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