Marietta Holley

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Marietta Holley (1836-1926), was a popular American humorist who used satire to comment on U.S. society and politics. Her successful series of "Samantha" books feature the character of Samantha Allen, a wise small-town woman, or "crackerbox philosopher," who goes on adventures in urban America and Europe, and her foolish husband, Josiah Allen. Holley was so skilled with satire and so popular that she was often compared to Mark Twain and Edgar Nye.

Holley was born on July 16, 1836 to John Milton and Mary Tabor Holley, the youngest of seven children. They lived on a small farm in the town of Bear Creek, now called Pierrepont Manor. At the age of 14, she ended her formal education to help support her family by giving piano lessons. When she was 17, she converted to Baptism and joined the Adams Village Baptist Church. Her father died when she was 25, and Holley took charge of the farm and care of her sick mother and sister. After she became successful as a writer, she built a Mansion called "Bonnie View" near her family's home in Pierrepont. Holley never married. She died on March 1, 1926 at the age of 89.

Holley enjoyed a prolific writing career, and was a bestselling author in the late 19th-century, though she was widely forgotten by the time of her death. Her first poems were published locally in the Adams Journal, which lead to later successes in more prominent periodicals, such as Peterson's Magazine. In 1872, her first novel, My Opinions and Betsey Bobbet's, was released by the American Publishing Company. Her most popular novel was probably Samantha at Saratoga, though sales statistics for this period are unreliable. Holley was known to be shy, and spent most of her life close to her family's farm, often writing her novels using maps and travel guides as resources. Despite her fear of travel, she did visit New York City periodically in her later life. She was well regarded by many contemporary writers and suffragists. Her famous friends included Susan B. Anthony, Twain and Clara Barton. Anthony frequently asked Holley to give speeches at suffrage conventions due to the strong stand Holley took in support of women's suffrage, though Holley refused public appearances.

Holley is remembered as one of America's most significant early women humorists, along with Frances Miriam Whitcher and Ann S. Stephens.

[edit] Publications

My Opinions and Betsey Bobbet's:Designed as a Beacon Light, To guide Women to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, But which May Be read by Members of the Sterner Sect, Without Injury to Themselves of This Book. Josiah Allen’s Wife. Hartford Conn., : American Publishing Company, 1873, c. 1872.
Josiah Allen’s Wife as a P.A. and P.I.: Designed as a Bright and Shining Light, To Pierce the Fogs of Error and Injustice That Surround Society and Josiah, And to Bring More Clearly to View the Path That Leads Straight on to Virtue and Happiness. Josiah Allen’s Wife. Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, c. 1877.
Betsey Bobbet: A Drama. Adams, N.Y.: W. J. Allen, 1880
The Lament of the Mormon Wife. Josiah Allen’s Wife. Hartford, Conn. : American Publishing Company, 1880.
My Wayward Pardner; or, My Trials with Josiah, America, the Widow Bump, and Etcetery. Josiah Allen’s Wife. Hartford Conn., American Publishing Company, 1880.
Miss Richard’s Boy and Other Stories. Hartford, Ct.: American Publishing, 1883.
Sweet Cicely: Josiah Allen as a Politician. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1885.
Miss Jones' Quilting and Other Stories. New York: J.S. Ogilvie, 1887.
Poems. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1887
Samantha at Saratoga or Flirtin’ with Fashion. Philadelphia: Hubbard Brothers, 1887.
Samantha Among the Brethren. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1890.
Samantha on the Race Problem. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1892; republished 1898 as Samantha Among the Colored Folks.
Tirzah Ann's Summer Trip and Other Sketches. New York: F. M. Lupton, 1892
Samantha at the World’s Fair. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1893.
Widder Doodle’s Love Affair and Other Stories. New York: F. M. Lupton, 1893.
Josiah's Alarm and Abel Perry’s Funeral. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1895.
Samantha in Europe. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1895.
Samantha at the St. Louis Exposition. New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1904.
Around the World With Josiah Allen’s Wife. New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1905.
Samantha Vs. Josiah: Being the Story of the Borrowed Automobile and What Became of It. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1906.
Samantha on Children’s Rights. New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1909.
Josiah’s Secret. Watertown, N.Y.: Hungerford-Holbrook, 1910.
How I Wrote My First Books. Harper’s Bazaar (September 1911).
Samantha at Coney Island and a Thousand Other Islands. New York: Christian Herald., 1911.
Samantha on the Woman Question. New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1913.
Josiah Allen on the Woman Question. New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1914.
What Is Behind Ouija? The World Magazine (27 June 1920): 5,13.
The Story of My Life, Published serially. Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, N.Y., 5 February to 9 April 1931.