Mary Wilkins Freeman is a (sadly overlooked) turn-of-the-century author and fierce feminist writer, much admired by her peers. The Whole Family was the brainchild of novelist William Dean Howells; a ‘collaborative’ with a dozen authors (including Henry James) all telling interconnected short stories about a single family, and centred around the engagement of Peggy and Harry. Freeman is given the second chapter, but took exception to the description of her character in Howells’ set-up and proceeded to turn the frumpy ‘maiden aunt’ into a sexual dynamo who flirts with her niece’s fiancé and ultimately torpedoes the relationship entirely. The remaining ten authors have to pick up the pieces after the “explosion of a bombshell” (the editor’s words) as Freeman fiercely defended her decision to liberate her character.
The story of the story is fascinating, but even without context, Freeman’s contribution is simply excellent work. Freeman not only showcases a new perspective, but changes the entire narrative around her. By subverting expectations, she transforms Aunt Elizabeth from an insipid wallflower to an intriguing, admirable woman who threatens to steal the spotlight entirely. (So much so that she’s quickly packed off to New York by the book’s other contributors!)
First published in Harper’s Bazaar, 1907. Collected in The Whole Family, Harper & Brothers, 1908. Read it online here
A Personal Anthology 