Letters of a Woman Homesteader

What is the author's style in Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart?

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Letters of a Woman Homesteader is a compilation of letters written by Elinore Stewart. Hers is the only relevant perspective to the book. Elinore has one of those unusually energetic, upbeat and strong personalities that one finds rarely in real life. Given that her husband died and that she was a single mother, one would not expect for a woman, in a time when women were not even allowed to vote, to seek out her own homestead much less to continue to pursue that goal and do so successfully despite getting remarried, having three more children, raising her daughter and helping her husband to run a ranch. But Elinore pressed on. Elinore often extends her expectation and hope of strength to those around her, frequently encouraging those near to her.

Elinore's independence and boldness make her a prime candidate for an early form of feminism. She clearly chafes under the authority Clyde exercises over her and the fact that her husband is her former boss could not have helped. She also believes that women can seek their own fortunes without men and that while most women would never dream of homesteading, that they can and should so dream because, in Elinore's view, they can become successful if they are simply willing to work hard enough.

Elinore is also clearly a woman of great humility given how often she apologizes to Mrs. Coney but she can also be somewhat deceptive, such as when she hides things from different people in the book. All in all, she is a force for good in her community and the energetic and joyful organizer of many activities.

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