Fair and Tender Ladies (1988) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Characters/People edit see section history

• Ivy Rowe: Independent spunky mountain girl with true grit in all circumstances whether they befell her or she created the challenges herself.
• Silvaney Rowe: Beloved sister of Ivy. Mental illness. One of Ivy's sadnesses is that Silvaney is taken away to an institution.
• Honey Breeding: Bee keeper who comes into Ivy's life and sweeps her away when she is most vulnerable.
• Curtis Bostick: Husband of Ivy's sister, Beulah. Seems to have a thing for Ivy but doesn't act on it.
• Oakley Fox: Ivy's quiet guy steadfast husband who whittles nature animals that people seem to admire.
• Violet Gayheart: Neighbor and friend to Ivy.
• Geneva Hunt: Friend of Ivy's mother and a loyal supporter of Ivy's whole family. An independent woman who runs a boarding house.
• John Arthur Rowe: Ivy's beloved father who worked hard, loved his mountain home, and died young because of the harshness of living in coal country and doing without.
• Ganelle and Vergie Cline: Two old ladies who were neighbors who came to the Rowe household to visit and tell stories. They are kind of magical to Ivy.
• Beulah Rowe Bostick: Ivy's often dissatisfied social climbing sister.
• Babe Rowe: Older brother of Ivy.
• Maude Castle Rowe: Ivy's hard working exhausted mother.
• Lonnie Rash: Early beau of Ivy's who wants to marry her but leaves with the army.
• Franklin Ransom: Mine owner's son who is a bit of a rake who pays Ivy considerable attention but eventually leaves the area in disgrace.
• Mister Castle: Maude Rowe's estranged father who claims her body after her death.
• Garnie Rowe: Ivy's melodramatic younger brother who grows up to be a self-righteous preacher.
• Revel Rowe: John Arthur's relatively successful brother who comes to visit and brings money and presents occasionally to the children.
• Joli: Ivy's first born child.
• Ethel Branham: Ivy's older married sister.
• Dreama Fox: Oakley's sister who never quite cares for Ivy. You get the feeling that she both disapproves of Ivy and is jealous of her.
• Stoney Branham: Husband of Ethel, Ivy's sister.
• Molly: Life long friend of Ivy Rowe from grammar school into old age.
• Rush Gayheart husband to Violet, mined with Oakley.: quiet. taciturn man
• Martha Gayheart: Daughter of Rush and Violet who comes to live with Ivy when Violet is recovering from a loss. Ivy treats Martha like another daughter.
• Victor Rowe: Older brother of Ivy. He seems more settled and responsible than Babe.
• Danny Rowe: He was a brother of Ivy. He is unhealthy and a matter of concern for the family.

Quotes edit see section history

• “And then he said, "Get up, Ivy, and take care of your children," and I did.”

  Ivy referring to her husband Oakley

• “Slow down. Slow down now, Ivy. This is the taste of Spring.”

  John Arthur Rowe

• “I am glad to hear you saved so many souls, I said. And how much money did you take in.”

  Ivy to brother Garnie.

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Sugar Fork: Rural mountain location of Ivy's home.
• Majestic: Nearest town to Sugar Fork.

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Lee Smith (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813.54

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Authors, A-Z › ( S ) › Smith, Lee
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Thrillers › Psychological & Suspense
• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › United States
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Family Saga
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary