Life and Gabriella: The Story of a Woman's Courage

"One of Miss Glasgow's great novels; it stands out as a fine and capable achievement. There is no doubt that with her fine historic sense, her faithful realism, her infectious humor, her gentle irony, she will rank as one of the first great American novelists." -New York Sun "For it all goes back to that - to Gabriella herself, the finest, most lovable and thoroughly worthwhile heroine it has been our good fortune to meet in many a long day. A real flesh-and-blood woman, not perfect by any means, making mistakes, learning many an enforced lesson, but always normal, optimistic, true and dependable as steel. The book is exceedingly well written; it has humor and pathos, reality, an exceptional insight into character, and a brave and inspiring philosophy of life. It sets a very high standard for the novels of 1916; those that measure up to it will be notable ones indeed." -The New York Times "A Southern girl breaks with her family traditions of genteel poverty and goes into business, but meets with suffering and disillusionment before she works out her salvation....It is a novel of manners and customs." -Publishers Weekly "Sex is the triumphant note of 'Life and Gabriella.' Scarcely a moment in it fails to bring before the reader that overwhelmingly important theme....As a chronicle of a woman 'Life and Gabriella' is filled with reality. The obsession of sex is no stronger in its pages than we find it in the world outside of them, and we follow Gabriella's career with intense interest." -Boston Transcript "Most admirable is the art with which Miss Glasgow catches the social atmosphere and puts it, living and colorful, into these pages. She has never done finer, truer work than these delicate, firm strokes with which she paints the life of Gabriella and her family and friends." -Bookman "The central conception is unique, and it is one of great strength." -The New York Evening Post "Although life deals severely with Gabriella, it never succeeds in making her a victim. This she refuses to be: 'You can't be a victim unless you give in,' says Gabriella, and because courage is her outstanding virtue, she does not give in. She is a southern girl, brought up in traditions of the old school. She marries, as all well-brought-up girls should, and her marriage, insecurely founded on sudden passion, comes to a sudden end. Left to her own resources, with two children dependent on her, Gabriella takes her life in her own hands and makes a success of it. At thirty-eight she is a successful New York business woman, self reliant and independent. Then comes her second love affair and in it her common sense wars with tradition, for the man she loves is not of the 'old school' type. But common sense, with love as its ally, wins, and we leave Gabriella with the feeling that life has done well by her after all." -Book Review Digest "A good example of the careful, assured study of social life and character which marks this novelist's work." -The Times of London "Life did its worst for Gabriella in the way of husband, family and environment, but Gabriella did her best so dauntlessly and with such resource that she forced circumstances into her favor. her unflinching bravery, her gallant buoyancy, are so emphatically her outstanding characteristics that they dwarf her other qualities almost into negation....'Life and Gabriella' is clever, finished, interesting. Ellen Glasgow tells the story in a quizzical, easy vein, frequently witty and always entertaining." -The Bellman