The White Morning

German Countess Gisela Neibuhr is feeling decidedly disappointed with the course her country appears to be going in. A talented writer, Gisela decides to rebel the only way she knows how – through her writing. First published in 1918, the novel was inspired by world events of the time and is a powerful exploration of the social standing of women during wartime, their dissatisfaction with the world around them, and their lack of agency within it. With a strong and inspirational female lead, ‘The White Morning’ is a powerful novel by the feminist author Gertrude Atherton.

Gertrude Atherton (1857-1948) was an American novelist, short story writer and early feminist. Born in California, Gertrude attended schools in California and Kentucky and became widely read. She married George H.B. Atherton in 1876, and lived with him and his mother in San Francisco, where they had two children. Atherton struggled with married life, her husband did not support her writing ambitions and Gertrude found life as a wife and mother stifling. When her husband died at sea in 1887, Atherton felt free to pursue her burgeoning career as an author and went on to publish over 50 novels. She is best known for her California series of novels which explored the social history of California and included popular works such as ‘The Californians’ and the controversial ‘Black Oxen’ which was adapted into a silent movie in 1923. Feminist themes and strong female characters are common in her novels. She died in San Francisco in 1948.