âSamantha on the Woman Questionâ (1913) was written by best-selling American writer and humourist Marietta Holley and tells the story of Samantha and her husband Josiah as they attend a reunion of the Allen family in Washington.
Holleyâs hugely successful series of Samantha books focus on the character of the sage, small-town woman, Samantha Allen, and her satirical escapades across America with her half-witted husband, Josiah Allen.
Famously filled with simple, opinionated, comic characters that pointed out the absurdities of American society at the time, her works shine a light on topical issues such as women's suffrage, racism, class divisions, temperance, and the treatment of women.
Marietta Holley (1836â1926) was an American best-selling author and humourist who used satire to comment on U.S. society and politics.
She began her literary career writing for newspapers and womenâs magazines before publishing her first novel, âMy Opinions and Betsy Bobbetâsâ in 1873.
Holley went on to write over 20 novels, including âRound the World with Samantha at the Centennialâ (1876), âMy Wayward Pardnerâ (1880), âMiss Richard's Boyâ (1882), and âJosiah Allen's Wifeâ (1899).
Her works popularised womenâs rights and criticised sexual double standards and the exploitation of labour. Often compared to Mark Twain, Marietta Holley is one of America's great female humorists.