Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Lilli de Jong
Janet Benton
Review by Priscilla Comen
Lilli de Jong
Janet Benton
Review by Priscilla Comen
Lilli de Jong by Janet Benton is the dramatic story of a young woman at the Philadelphia Haven for Women and Infants in 1883. Author Benton uses "thee" and "thou" to set the scene of the Quaker background, its rules and regulations. She takes us through Lillie's falling in love, her sexual relations, surprise pregnancy, and painful childbirth at the Home. After twenty-one days, the mothers must give up their babies for adoption. These mothers have sinned, they are told. Yet Lilli feels they are victims, and nothing is ever done to the men who have violated them.
Some of the women were raped by employers, others by the fathers or brothers, and some betrayed by their lovers.
In the form of a diary, Lilli writes her thoughts in first person, making the reader feel she knows Lilli. She's lucky to be hired by a wealthy family to be a wet nurse to baby Henry for $25 a month, a large amount in those times. But her own daughter must go to another woman who will care for her. Her employer, Mr Albert Burnham, comes onto Lilli and makes fun of her being a Quaker and a whore. She will not be alone with him again. She thinks of Johan, the young man who left her to be in Pittsburgh and never sent for her. She teaches another servant in the house to read and write. She wonders why Henry's mother dislikes him so much. She leaves his needs completely to Lilli.
Lilli reads a book from Burnham's library by John Stuart Mills about freedom; people should enjoy if it does not harm others. She takes the book to her room, and plans to sew clothes to sell to support herself. She can not afford a sewing machine yet. When Lilli's baby's wet nurse's house burns down, the baby is sent to the horrid city almhouse. Lilli's problems in getting her baby back are described in detail. Author Benton shows the loud and busy streets of Victorian times with vendors shouting
their wares, horses pulling their carriages. Lilli and her baby find
themselves living on those streets. The problems and prejudice against unwed mothers are well told here.
Author Benton has done much research. Find this fascinating book on the new fiction shelf of your community library.
Some of the women were raped by employers, others by the fathers or brothers, and some betrayed by their lovers.
In the form of a diary, Lilli writes her thoughts in first person, making the reader feel she knows Lilli. She's lucky to be hired by a wealthy family to be a wet nurse to baby Henry for $25 a month, a large amount in those times. But her own daughter must go to another woman who will care for her. Her employer, Mr Albert Burnham, comes onto Lilli and makes fun of her being a Quaker and a whore. She will not be alone with him again. She thinks of Johan, the young man who left her to be in Pittsburgh and never sent for her. She teaches another servant in the house to read and write. She wonders why Henry's mother dislikes him so much. She leaves his needs completely to Lilli.
Lilli reads a book from Burnham's library by John Stuart Mills about freedom; people should enjoy if it does not harm others. She takes the book to her room, and plans to sew clothes to sell to support herself. She can not afford a sewing machine yet. When Lilli's baby's wet nurse's house burns down, the baby is sent to the horrid city almhouse. Lilli's problems in getting her baby back are described in detail. Author Benton shows the loud and busy streets of Victorian times with vendors shouting
their wares, horses pulling their carriages. Lilli and her baby find
themselves living on those streets. The problems and prejudice against unwed mothers are well told here.
Author Benton has done much research. Find this fascinating book on the new fiction shelf of your community library.