Something Worth Doing, by Jane Kirkpatrick, 2020, Revell (Baker Publishing)

Something Worth Doing is a historical fiction based on the real life story of Abigail Duniway. The novel covers the years from 1852 to 1912, from when Abigail was seventeen to when she was seventy-seven. Chapter one begins with Abigail’s family travelling west by wagon train from Illinois. Her mother has recently passed away. Abigail (or Jenny, as was her nickname), felt that the move may have contributed to her mother’s early death. Men ruled in those days. Women had very little choice about anything. So, although her mother, after bearing a series of children, wished to remain in Illinois where “civilization was catching up to them”, her father had said no. He also forbid his daughters to bring anything that they treasured, however they found ways of hiding some of their mother’s possessions to sneak along.

Girls were expected to marry young, to be under the protection of a husband. Marriage had little to do with love. An older sister was forced to marry a man 20 years her senior. Abigail was fortunate to marry a man who did love her. However, she felt that she had no freedoms and a heavy workload, while he was able to enjoy time with his friends. Men had all the rights and women had none. Abigail felt it keenly and saw it clearly. She began to write articles for the paper highlighting the unfairness of it all. Then she wrote a novel to portray her concerns. But people were not reading novels at that time.

Abigail continually found ways to supplement the family income throughout her childbearing years, and her work was always in some way for the betterment of women. She eventually got involved in the suffragette movement, especially concentrating on pushing for womens voting rights. With the assistance of her family she even started up a newspaper, and later toured the country speaking.

After many years some regions gradually changed, but she met with continual opposition, even from an older brother who published a bigger newspaper. Finally, at the age of 77, she saw success and honour, even from that brother.

Persistence pays off is the message I take away from this story. Dont quit. Keep working at “something worth doing”, the worthy cause that has been handed to you.