The Splendid Idle Forties

Set against the backdrop of California, the work of Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton explores themes of feminism, politics, and personal struggle. Her bestselling novel, Black Oxen, was adapted into a silent film, showcasing her influence in early 20th-century literature. Atherton's literary career began with serialized stories, leading to her first novel, What Dreams May Come. Her journey as a writer was marked by personal challenges, including familial ostracism after revealing her identity as an author.