Published in 1913 by Kate Douglas Wiggin, The Story of Waitstill Baxter is intended for an adult audience. Famous for her children's books, most notably Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggin addresses serious social issues in this story. Waitstill Baxter, a young woman caring for a younger sister and an ogre like father, is a model of all the virtues. Her father, a mean spirited, hot-tempered man, had buried three wives, all of whom were described as glad to die to get out of his household. Despite these ...
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Published in 1913 by Kate Douglas Wiggin, The Story of Waitstill Baxter is intended for an adult audience. Famous for her children's books, most notably Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggin addresses serious social issues in this story. Waitstill Baxter, a young woman caring for a younger sister and an ogre like father, is a model of all the virtues. Her father, a mean spirited, hot-tempered man, had buried three wives, all of whom were described as glad to die to get out of his household. Despite these unpromising circumstances, Waitstill and her sister Patience grow into beautiful, innocent, and virtuous young women who are capable housekeepers and models of early twentieth century womanhood. Though they and another primary character, Ivory Boynton, face trials and tribulations, the story has a happy ending in which the virtuous triumph, and the wicked suffer. Patience Baxter, the younger sister, is the most interesting character, since she is allowed to have a little bit of human weakness in the form of wishing for nice things and rebelling against the father's strictures. Waitstill is so good that no one could really identify with her--unless other readers are also completely virtuous at every moment. Touches of humor make this is good read. The dialogue is often funny, such as the discussion of "entomology" [etymology] describing the history of various words in an absolutely ridiculous manner. The courtship efforts of the character Cephas are also a source of fun. It is also interesting to this reader that Wiggin introduces serious social issues through the vehicle of a novel. This story touches on the status of women, poverty, the dark side of patriarchy, suicide, adultery, serial marriages, illegitimate birth, child abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness. In the early twentieth century many female authors were writing stories that brought alive the social ills of the day, particularly the status of orphans, and placing these topics in the context of readable and popular stories. Gene Stratton Porter, Kate Douglas Wiggin, Jean Webster, Eleanor Porter, Lucy Maud Montgomery and others wrote popular novels depicting the experiences of children dealing with congregate care in orphanages, poverty, child abuse, orphaned status, and the experiences of women struggling to be accepted and acknowledged as full human beings--capable of "womanly virtues" while also being persons of learning and intelligence. (Carol Massat)
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Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $3.99, very good condition, Sold by LAURA GONZALES rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Colorado Springs, CO, UNITED STATES, published 1913 by GROSSET & DUNLAP.
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Seller's Description:
Very good NO jacket. VG+ NO DJ 7 1/4" X 5" 373 PGS. LT GREEN CLOTH OVER BOARDS WITH RED LETTERING, I COVER, BINDING & PAGES CLEAN, BRIGHT & TIGHT. NO MARKINGS EXCEPT FOR P/O NAME ON FRONT PAGE. EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $6.43, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $6.70, good condition, Sold by Pilkington & Sons rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Windber, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1913 by Grosset & Dunlap.
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Good. -Disclaimer: May have a different cover image than stock photos shows, as well as being a different edition/printing, unless otherwise stated. Please contact us if you're looking for one of these specifically. Your order will ship with FREE Delivery Confirmation (Tracking). We are a family business, and your satisfaction is our goal!
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $8.04, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $12.00, good condition, Sold by Dunaway Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Saint Louis, MO, UNITED STATES, published by Houghton and Mifflin.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $12.00, good condition, Sold by Stone Soup Books rated 2.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Camden, ME, UNITED STATES, published 1913 by Houghton Mifflin Co.
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Good. 8vo, green cloth biinding with gilt lettering, cover is mottled and discolored, owner's bookplate partially torn out, color frontispiece, a novel, 373 pages.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $12.99, good condition, Sold by Robin Books rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Kingston, ON, CANADA.
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Very Good. Hardcover Very Good Standard used condition May have some wear, highlighting, notes, creasing, previous owner's name, etc May or may not include supplements such as infotrac or other web access codes (the dust cover may be missing) Fast & reliable delivery Exceptional customer service.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $14.04, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2023 by Bibliotech Press.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $15.00, good condition, Sold by Gils Book Loft rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Binghamton, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1913 by Houghton Mifflin.
Add this copy of The Story of Waitstill Baxter to cart. $15.00, good condition, Sold by The Wild Muse rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Granville, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1913 by Houghton Mifflin.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good Minus. No Jacket. 8vo. First edition. Hard cover in original cloth. Published Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1913, first printing. 8vo., illustrated with color plates by H. M. Brett. Green cloth with gilt titles. Cloth sunned, spine lettering faded, edges mildly foxed. binding tight, text and plates clean. Very good minus.
