One of the most vivid and entertaining interpreters of the complex
characteristics of American womanhood is the versatile and entertaining
writer, Gertrude Franklin Atherton. She was born on Rincon Hill, San
Francisco, California, October 30, 1859, daughter of Thomas Lyman
Horn, of German descent, and on her mother’s side descended from a
brother of Benjamin Franklin. She was educated at St. Mary’s Hall,
Benicia, California, also at Sayre Institute, Lexington, Kentucky,
and by private tutors. In addition to this, she had obtained a good
foundation in the classics, English especially, from the teachings of
her grandfather. Before leaving school she was married to George Henry
Bowen Atherton, a native of Valparaiso, Chili. After his death, in
1888, Mrs. Atherton went directly to New York city, beginning literary
work in earnest. As she never received courteous treatment from the
press of her own country, she settled in London in 1895, and there met
with gratifying recognition. Some of her most important works are:
“The Doomswoman,” 1902; “Patience Sparhawk and Her Times,” 1897; “His
Fortunate Grace,” 1897; “American Wives and English Husbands,” 1898;
“The Californians,” 1898; “A Daughter of the Vine,” 1899; “Senator
North,” 1900. The latter is the first attempt in American fiction
at a purely national novel, disregarding section. The Leeds Mercury
styled “The Californians” an oasis in fiction, while the British Weekly
declared Mrs. Atherton to be the ablest writer of fiction now living.
The brilliancy of her portraiture and the humor and freshness of her
dialogues are undeniable. A western writer says, “The early days of the
missions and Spanish rule have given her a most congenial field, and
she has successfully reproduced their atmosphere in her best novels;
against the background of their romantic traditions she paints the
world, old, strong of passion, vague, dreamy, idyllic, yet strong and
elemental.”