Elsie's Girlhood (The Original Elsie Dinsmore Collection) Paperback – October 1, 2009

Finley's books are an enjoyable read for children with a higher reading comprehension or adults looking for a cute story.

So happy with this book. Received an original copy from the 1870s in great condition considering age. Story is the favorite of my 10yo daughter. She does not care for the newer books nearly as much as these original ones.

Perfect!

I love the original Elsie books and Hendrickson Publishers did a great job of taking the Hibbard publicationand enlarging the books making them easier to read. They also did a great job on the covers. They shipped quickly too.

In my opinon this where the Elsie series should have stopped. I own all of the Elsie books and my opinon this is by far the best. What Elsie fans think is coming at the end of book two actually happens.At the end of this book I couldn't stop smiling when Travilla finally professed his love!!!-- It was probably the most romantic ending I've ever read. I've read and re-read this book probably a hundred times and still seems just as touching as when I first read it. The Travilla events in this book are so touching and personal you find yourselves wishing you were in Elsie's shoes.As in all of the Elsie books things start out slow and boring but, quickly become interesting once you get into the story. This is in my opinon is the crown jewel in her writing,I would recomend the Elsie books to anyone who has a young daughter or who is a Christian... these books are meant to be an example on morallity and beauty. Buy the first four trust me you will not regret it!!!

I think my favorite part of this book was Aunt Wealthy, who keeps putting the hind part first in her speech, such as "Horace, will you please step up on that figurine so you can get the ladder down from the shelf?" (Horace, will you please step up on that ladder so you can get the figurine down from the shelf?"In response to one review I read I think the reason why Elsie was so naive is because she was deeply in love with Broomly, the money seeker, and unfortunately in her case, 'love covers a multitude of sins.'If she had been just a little bit the rebel, she would have married Broomly Earginton and got in to a whole lot of mess.Also, Edward Travilla was not twice her age, he was only 8 or 9 years older than she was, and if my memory serves me correctly, Princess Diana was 13 years younger than the Prince. So much for age! (And if it�s any consolation, Mr. Travilla dies in a couple of years.)Sorry if that�s a spoiler, but one of the titles of the books is "Elsie's Widowhood."Other than that, I really enjoyed this book, and I do recommend it.

Martha Finley's writing styel is singular. I love the leasurly way she unwinds her tails, and especially this one, which is, I believe, my favorite Elsie book. The old fashioned way of both telling, and wording, her stories is charming. And the spiritual depths are refreshing. Srtrap up: you are on an emotional roller coaster. Get ready to laugh, gasp, cry, and, most of all, SMILE. I love Elsie, Horace, Rose, and Edward. The "A Life Of Faith" Elsie books are cheap, light reading. If you want the real story, then read the real story.

Elise's Girlhood by Martha FinleyThe conflict is that Elsie falls in love with Egerton. She cannot marry him at the climax. It is resolved when Travilla and Elsie engage.Elsie is a godly woman who respects her father and his choices greatly. She has a tender spirit that is easily crushed though. Others are attracted to her because she is open and caring and they can tell she is beautiful within.The theme is that you need to respect authority, no matter what, because they know better than you do on most matters.I loved the book! Only girls would enjoy it though. Even though it was written in the 1860's, you didn't notice that it was. I would recommend it to any girl and I will certainly read the rest of the books

This is the book about Elsie's teenage years, when she is growing up - and romance seems to beckon! But romance comes first of all to Elsie's widower of a father, who marries Rose Allison, who had been a great friend to Elsie. But Elsie finds her unpleasant relation Arthur Dinsmore bothering her to lend him money to feed his gambling habit - and Arthur is angry with her for refusing him! So he hatches a terrible plot - he encourages one of his friends, who Elsie doesn't know, to meet her and persuade Elsie to marry him - so that they can share Elsie's money between them. Mr Bromly Egerton, as the man calls himself, is handsome and knows how to make himself attractive to women. He even persuades Elsie that she shares the same Christian faith as herself - but Elsie has a faithful friend who know the truth about him. Elsie cannot believe the truth at first and goes through a sad time - until she finds out the real truth about Mr Bromly Egerton (a.k.a Tom Jackson) for herself! Elsie has other suitors - but in the end a genuine friend declares his love for Elsie - the man who she will marry - a man who loves Elsie, and who really knows and loves Elsie's God.There is far, far more to the book than this. There is humour, when Elsie visits her Aunt Wealthy who mixes up her words in a most hilarious way! There she meets some real characters in the Schilling family and makes a friend, Lottie King. And there is much, much more! There is much to enjoy in this book - and some sadness, and some things to make one angry. But all through it all is Elsie's real Christian faith - a faith she is glad her father shares now. This is another great book that carries the saga of Elsie a little further.