author
Fanny Fern
1811–1872
A witty, outspoken 19th-century columnist, this pioneering American writer turned everyday struggles into sharp, lively prose. Her work helped make women’s voices impossible to ignore in newspapers and popular fiction.
11 Audiobooks
Fresh Leaves
by Fanny Fern
Ruth Hall: A Domestic Tale of the Present Time
by Fanny Fern
Ginger-Snaps
by Fanny Fern
Little Ferns For Fanny's Little Friends
by Fanny Fern
Fern Leaves from Fanny's Port-folio. Second Series
by Fanny Fern
A New Story Book for Children
by Fanny Fern
Folly as It Flies; Hit at by Fanny Fern
by Fanny Fern
Rose Clark
by Fanny Fern
The Play-day Book: New Stories for Little Folks
by Fanny Fern
About the author
Born Sara Payson Willis in Portland, Maine, Fanny Fern became one of the most popular American newspaper writers of the mid-1800s. She wrote under a pen name and built a wide audience with humorous, pointed columns that often challenged marriage customs, social hypocrisy, and the narrow roles available to women.
Her best-known book is Ruth Hall (1854), a novel often described as drawing on her own difficult experiences as a widow trying to support her family through writing. She also published other fiction, children’s books, and collections of her columns, and was widely read for her quick, conversational style.
Fern later wrote for the New York Ledger, where she became one of the best-paid columnists of her day. Today she is remembered not only as a successful author and journalist, but also as an early and powerful voice for women’s independence and professional ambition.