THE REBELLION OF MISS LUCY ANN LOBDELL by William Klaber
This was such an interesting story and yet so sad. Lucy Ann, who lived most of her life as a
man, was a remarkable person. Abandoned
by a beater husband and left with a small daughter to care for. She returned “home”
to an unforgiving family. After donning
men’s clothing and cutting her hair she left her daughter behind to establish
herself as a “proper wage earner” in a society that did not look kindly on
divorce or even spinsterhood.
Klaber’s well researched volume relates Lucy Ann’s life with
sympathy and sensitivity. He deals with
her misfortunes when discovered to be a woman dressing as a man and a woman
living as husband with another woman.
The late 1800’s were not good years for a non-conforming woman.
Book groups will find a wealth of topics for discussion –
our treatment of non-conformists, religion, woman’s roles, men’s roles, mothers
who desert their children, “fallen” women, lesbians, mental illness, insane
asylums and many others.
5 of 5 stars
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