Mary Adams, a schoolteacher in New York City, dreams of finding a husband. She starts a relationship with Jim Anthony, a criminal she meets at the New York Public Library.
Mary and Jim visit North Carolina to meet Anthony's mother. Now a drunk, she tries to murder her son in order to retrieve the valuables from his suitcase that he has stolen. Mary escapes when she finds out about Anthony's criminal activities, and she is rescued by a physician. She is pregnant with Jim's son. Later, he returns his stolen items, builds a family home for his wife and son, and promises to get a job and provide for his family.[1]
The novel is a criticism of the emancipation of women.[2]
Critical receptionedit
In a January 1916 review for Bookman, critic P.G. Hulbert, Jr. argued that the ending of the novel was absurd.[1]
Biographer Anthony Slide has suggested that there is 'a vague hint of eugenics' when Mary is worried that her son may inherit Jim's criminal propensions.[1] He added, 'It is not Jim who is the hero here, or even the friendly doctor, but rather the South. The South has a regenerative effect on Jim and helps cure him of the ills—that is, crime—that he developed in New York.'[1]
^ abcdefghijAnthony Slide, American Racist: The Life and Films of Thomas Dixon, Louisville, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2004, pp. 105-111 [1]
^North Carolina Biographical Dictionary, North American Book Distribution, 1999, p. 182 [2]
External linksedit
The novel at Project Gutenberg
February 15, 2024
foolish, virgin, romance, today, 1915, novel, thomas, dixon, title, page, first, edition, authorsthomas, dixon, languageenglishpublisherd, appleton, companypublication, date1915pages352, contents, plot, summary, main, theme, critical, reception, cinematic, ada. The Foolish Virgin A Romance of Today is a 1915 novel by Thomas Dixon Jr The Foolish Virgin A Romance of TodayTitle page of the first edition AuthorsThomas Dixon Jr LanguageEnglishPublisherD Appleton and CompanyPublication date1915Pages352 Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Main theme 3 Critical reception 4 Cinematic adaptations 5 References 6 External linksPlot summary editMary Adams a schoolteacher in New York City dreams of finding a husband She starts a relationship with Jim Anthony a criminal she meets at the New York Public Library Mary and Jim visit North Carolina to meet Anthony s mother Now a drunk she tries to murder her son in order to retrieve the valuables from his suitcase that he has stolen Mary escapes when she finds out about Anthony s criminal activities and she is rescued by a physician She is pregnant with Jim s son Later he returns his stolen items builds a family home for his wife and son and promises to get a job and provide for his family 1 The book title is taken from the Christian parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins Main theme editThe novel is a criticism of the emancipation of women 2 Critical reception editIn a January 1916 review for Bookman critic P G Hulbert Jr argued that the ending of the novel was absurd 1 Biographer Anthony Slide has suggested that there is a vague hint of eugenics when Mary is worried that her son may inherit Jim s criminal propensions 1 He added It is not Jim who is the hero here or even the friendly doctor but rather the South The South has a regenerative effect on Jim and helps cure him of the ills that is crime that he developed in New York 1 Cinematic adaptations editThe film rights were purchased by the Clara Kimball Young Film Corporation headed by actress Clara Kimball Young and Lewis J Selznick 1 Filming began in August 1916 1 The film received good reviews in the Motion Picture News the Exhibitor s Trade Review and the Evening Express 1 Another cinematic adaptation was released in 1924 1 Directed by George W Hill it starred Elaine Hammerstein and Robert Frazer 1 The storyline was strayed from the novel and the film received bad reviews in Variety and Photoplay 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Anthony Slide American Racist The Life and Films of Thomas Dixon Louisville Kentucky University Press of Kentucky 2004 pp 105 111 1 North Carolina Biographical Dictionary North American Book Distribution 1999 p 182 2 External links editThe novel at Project Gutenberg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Foolish Virgin A Romance of Today amp oldid 1145146821, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
