Review by
KT Sullivan
In her
1879 New York Times obituary, the paper stated that Lucy Ann Lobdell passed
herself off as Joseph Lobdell for most of her life. Lucy decided she wanted a
say in her life; where she lived, if she married, and earning a living. For
these things to happen, the only logical solution was to be a man. After her
husband leaves her and she gives birth to her daughter, Helen, Lucy Ann sets
out on her own. Dressed as a man, she works on her new persona and winds up
giving dance lessons. She also hunts and plays the violin. She has to be very
careful about her lie being exposed. When Lucy Ann falls in love with another
woman, it’s the beginning of her undoing. She runs away to Minnesota, works for
a while, makes friends, and then suspicions rise and she’s running again. She’s
arrested, attacked, burned out of her home, and committed to a mental
institution. Even her daughter isn’t safe. Lucy Ann marries a woman and tries
to live peacefully, but it never happens. The laws and people are always
against her.
This is a
true and sad story. I hoped Lucy Ann would be happy, safe or left alone to live
as she pleased. The reader will be rooting for her success too. What she had to
endure for being a woman and different is frightening. She represents women of
that time who bucked the status quo and paid a heavy price.
Purchase
the book at:
About the
Author:
William Klaber is a part-time
journalist who lives in upstate New York on a hill overlooking Basket Creek, a
short ways upstream from where Lucy Lobdell lived 160 years ago. The old
farmhouse that he bought with his wife Jean in 1980 (and where they raised
three children) had a history with Lucy’s legend, but he didn’t know that till
years later when he sat down with Jack Niflot, a long-time local
historian. Jack told him Lucy’s story and showed him a leather satchel filled
with recollections and articles about her, gathered over years. What Jack
hadn’t found with his searching was the memoir that Lucy had promised. Saying
that he no longer felt up to writing a book of his own, Jack handed the satchel
to the author.
Following the gift of Jack’s
research, the author made his own effort to find Lucy’s memoir. When nothing
came of it, he decided that the finding would have to be by way of echoes and
dreams. Mr. Klaber is a graduate of Wesleyan University and is best known for
producing the public radio documentary, The RFK Tapes, and co-authoring
the bookShadow Play (St. Martins, 1997). The Rebellion of Miss Lucy
Ann Lobdell is his first foray into fiction.
Connect with the author at:
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The Rebellion
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