In search of a certain book and recommendations

[Spout]

Hi all,

I'm currently in the process of driving myself nuts because I can't remember the title or the author of a book except partly and I can't even vouch for the correctness of those memories. So please, if anybody can, help me out. Here is what I do remember:

The author was American, male, a pretty big name and, to my recollection, from the same era as Jack London and Mark Twain. I originally remembered that London or Twain would have been the author but I've browsed through both bibliographies thrice to no avail. Doesn't mean that I haven't missed something though.

Now, the title of the book... whoo boy... It had two parts. The main title of the book which, to my recollection was a woman's name or a name with a few words (e.g. Adventures of Tom Sawyer), and a secondary title which went something like "and other stories/tales of misbehaving/mischievous young women/girls", something like that.

The story itself was about a (teenage, if my memory serves me right) girl who was living in the United States in the early 1900s or late 1800s, and who was basically a tomboy, defying authorities, refusing to conform to norms, that kind of stuff. That's about it.

I know, it's not much to go on (I've done a gazillion searches on Amazon already) but if anybody recognized the book, I would greatly appreciate it if you would be so kind as to post the title/author here or PM me.
Thanks in advance.

[PoeticPassions]

Hmm, well that doesn't sound familiar, but i can look into it as well. Have you tried going thorugh Hawthorne's works or maybe Theodore Dreiser's? Or even Henry James... I know they were all writing coming of age stories around the time that you are looking for. I have read a lot of Dreiser, however, and don't recall anything quite like your description.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help...hopefully someone else will know. good luck

[Spout]

Thanks for the suggestions, greatly appreciated! :)

Of the names you mentioned, Henry James was the only possible option since I didn't recognize the other two names (well, have heard of Hawthorne but don't know anything about the writer's literary works) and it was definitely written by an author I know.

However, I just checked James' bibliography and didn't find the book, alas! I fear it's also possible that the edition I'm searching for has gone completely out of print and the novel currently exists only as a part of a "Complete Works"-type collection or some such, the title not mentioned anywhere save for in the pages of the actual volume.

One thing that came to my mind was that the book was possibly banned when it was first published, and that it was written late in the author's career. I can't vouch either of these is correct but that it was I (seem to) recall now.

[PoeticPassions]

Could it be Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders: The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders????

I haven't read it, but have heard of it and know something about it. The title seems to match your memory and it was a book that was banned at some point. It does occur in America, but not sure whether the main character is a tomboy... but she lives an "immoral" life... not sure. try it!

[Mariamosis]

'Moll Flanders' seems to fit in with most of the criteria. Although not exactly a tomboy; she did defy authority and refuse to conform to norms.

However, this story takes place in mid to late 17th century, therefore, it is probably not the correct book.

I wish I had further suggestions.

[Spout]

Wow, thanks for the suggestions folks! I didn't expect so many replies. What a terrific forum! :thumbs_up :)

Moll Flanders does sound similiar but it's not it, I have and have read Moll Flanders. Actually watching the BBC rendition recently sparked my interest in the picaresque novel again, hence the feverish search for this mysterious book which keeps eluding me.

[Mariamosis]

Do any of these American authors ring a bell?

William Faulkner
J.D. Salinger
Stephen Crane
Theodore Dreiser

(I am just throwing some names about and hoping one might strike a nerve...)

[ilikecomputer]

To Kill a Mockingbird?

[kelby_lake]

Was it written by someone like Louisa May Alcott?

[AuntShecky]

Booth Tarkington? He was closer to the era of Twain and London.

[Spout]

Whew, quite a few names I've read somewhere but am not familiar with. I'll have to check all of those because I'm starting to second-guess my familiarity with the author of the novel since I've gone through most I know and have come up with nil.

Thanks a bunch for the suggestions, keep 'em coming: if all documentation of the book hasn't been destroyed in a big government conspiracy, I'm sure it's a matter of time before I do find it even if I have to wear out my keyboard in the process. :crash:

[Spout]

Still searching but I forgot all about the "recommendations"-part of this thread!


Could you folks recommend any other such picaresque novels, preferably ones with a tomboy-ish female character as the protagonist?

So far I have read:
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
Brass by Helen Walsh
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (I've read a few others by Waters as well)
Friday by Robert Heinlein


I'm currently in the process of creating a picaresque novel with such a character so I need to check out as many "versions" of the female picaro as possible.

[Mariamosis]

Could you folks recommend any other such picaresque novels, preferably ones with a tomboy-ish female character as the protagonist?

So far I have read:
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
Brass by Helen Walsh
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (I've read a few others by Waters as well)
Friday by Robert Heinlein


The only book out of the list I have read is 'Moll Flanders', and while some may disagree, Daniel Defoe can be a bit dry and repetitive. However, it is still a great novel and entertaining, but you must have perserverance to pull through at times.

'To Kill a Mockingbird' is a huge one when considering tomboy protagonists and John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' has quite a few tomboyish characters in the book, but none of which are the main character.

Come to think of it, I can't think of very many that I have read. This may be a question for the experts.

I hope you find the title of your book!

[Scheherazade]

Could it be Daisy Miller by Henry James?

[Emil Miller]

There is an unfinished story by Mark Twain called Hellfire Hotchkiss which is about a tomboy who defys the norms of society.