Elsie's Widowhood

In this seventh volume in The Original Elsie Dinsmore Series, Edward and Elsie's daughter, young Elsie, is saddened by a separation from her beloved Lester, who decides to study abroad. Shortly after Lester leaves for Europe, Edward falls ill and dies. Elsie learns to rely on her father, Horace Dinsmore, for strength while depending on her heavenly father as well. In this seventh volume in The Original Elsie Dinsmore Series, Edward and Elsie's daughter, young Elsie, is saddened by a separation from her beloved Lester, who decides to study abroad. Shortly after Lester leaves for Europe, Edward falls ill and dies. Elsie learns to rely on her father, Horace Dinsmore, for strength while depending on her heavenly father as well.

30 review for Elsie's Widowhood

5 out of 5

Holly – Mar 28, 2012

Despite its lugubrious title, ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD is a fairly good read. It's #7 in the Elsie Dinsmore series, carrying our pious heroine into middle age. Elsie's husband dies unexpectedly, leaving the grieving widow all soaked in tears. But her faith sustains her, as we all know it will. The lesson of leaning on God, in times of sorrow, is certainly commendable and apt. However, here it's somewhat muted by the fact that Elsie's father, Horace Dinsmore, comes so much into prominence as her earthly Despite its lugubrious title, ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD is a fairly good read. It's #7 in the Elsie Dinsmore series, carrying our pious heroine into middle age. Elsie's husband dies unexpectedly, leaving the grieving widow all soaked in tears. But her faith sustains her, as we all know it will. The lesson of leaning on God, in times of sorrow, is certainly commendable and apt. However, here it's somewhat muted by the fact that Elsie's father, Horace Dinsmore, comes so much into prominence as her earthly comforter. The Elsie books have always showcased the perverse Oedipal "triangle" of Elsie, Papa, and Mr. Travilla. With Travilla permanently gone, Elsie simply returns to the arms of her first and most enduring love. The most Freudian scene occurs shortly after Travilla's death, when Papa takes his, Travilla's, empty seat at the dinner table. Any psychoanalyst would have a field day with this material! The second half of the book has a lighter tone. Elsie's cousins, Molly and Isadore, both find worthy husbands. And then Edward and Violet spend an exciting summer vacation with friends on the New Jersey coast. There's even a shipwreck and dramatic rescue! Romance, too. ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD was apparently written upon the insistence of publishers who wanted Martha Finley to continue her popular series. And killing off Elsie's husband set the stage for brand-new storylines and situations.
4 out of 5

Brenna – Aug 10, 2012

It is so sad the husband had to die. But she did marry a guy 17 years older than her. I like that even though she went through trials, she still trusted her her earthly and heavenly Father.
4 out of 5

Leash – Feb 14, 2016

This was the saddest of them all. I thought Finley did a good job and showing how a young woman deals with grief and her faith.
4 out of 5

Heather – May 26, 2011

Great book! Each of the Elsie Dinsmore series gets better and better!
5 out of 5

Bkwyrm – Jul 24, 2011

It's awful. This book is even more painfully evangelical than the previous ones. I CAN'T STOP. Her husband dies - but she's still young! And beautiful! - and she goes back to Daddy, who IMMEDIATELY re-establishes his old authority over her. Did I mention she's still young? And beautiful? It's awful. This book is even more painfully evangelical than the previous ones. I CAN'T STOP. Her husband dies - but she's still young! And beautiful! - and she goes back to Daddy, who IMMEDIATELY re-establishes his old authority over her. Did I mention she's still young? And beautiful?
4 out of 5

Elisabeth Gimenez – Jul 24, 2012

This one is sad. I knew that he was going to die because I read a couple of the Vi series but how he died was different.
5 out of 5

Anajoy-rusticgirl – Mar 08, 2010

Why did he have to die?
4 out of 5

Marie – Jul 13, 2010

I give it two stars ... for the lolz.
4 out of 5

Rachel – Dec 31, 2011

This series is a bit Calvinistic in its theology, and it's also a bit uber-Christian; i.e., the Christians are really, really good and the non-Christians are really, really bad. This series is a bit Calvinistic in its theology, and it's also a bit uber-Christian; i.e., the Christians are really, really good and the non-Christians are really, really bad.
4 out of 5

Meadow Frisbie – Dec 08, 2008

It was really sad!!!! It was different from the revised versions. But is still an awsome read.
4 out of 5

Faith Burnside – Jul 02, 2020

Actually a somewhat decent story as compared to the rest of the series, though if your child has lost their father it will make them feel guilty for having normal emotions involved in grief, and for not being sad that they can no longer pray for their father. I speak from experience.
5 out of 5

Katja – Sep 12, 2020

5 stars & 5/10 hearts. The title of this book gives the plot away, so that was a bit of a let-down for me. And everyone knows I don’t object to drama in my books, but I do object to inexplicable or arbitrary drama—and Elsie’s husband’s death annoyed me in that it was completely unexpected & random—he wasn’t shot or anything, & she never explained what happened to him! Other than that quibble, I did enjoy this book a lot. I admit I cried... but oh, I love the message of having hope & peace in spi 5 stars & 5/10 hearts. The title of this book gives the plot away, so that was a bit of a let-down for me. And everyone knows I don’t object to drama in my books, but I do object to inexplicable or arbitrary drama—and Elsie’s husband’s death annoyed me in that it was completely unexpected & random—he wasn’t shot or anything, & she never explained what happened to him! Other than that quibble, I did enjoy this book a lot. I admit I cried... but oh, I love the message of having hope & peace in spite of death, & of being glad for those who have gone on ahead of us. I loved getting to know more of Elsie’s children as grownups, & there were some amazing new characters too—and a lot of humour! As usual, I’m eager to read the next book. <33 A Favourite Quote: “‘And why shouldn't I be patient?’ he returned; ‘didn't Christ suffer far more than I do?’ “‘And he comforts you in the midst of it all, does he not?’ asked Mrs. Perkins. “‘He does, indeed, ma'am.’ “‘I have always found him faithful to his promises,’ she said. “‘And I,’ remarked another lady...; ‘strength has always been given me according to my day, in the past, and I am glad to leave the future with him.’” A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “[T]hey ... sat in the sand revelling in the delicious sea breeze and the sight of the ever restless, ever changing, beautiful ocean, with its rolling, tumbling, dashing waves.” A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘And young Massa Jones, he preach bery nice sometimes, but sometimes it 'pears like he disremembers what's in de bressed book, and contradicts it wid some of his own notions.’”
4 out of 5

Katie –
5 out of 5

Niklas –
4 out of 5

Jennifer –
4 out of 5

Beth Erin –
4 out of 5

Melissa –
5 out of 5

Vanessa –
4 out of 5

Mariah –
5 out of 5

Emily –
5 out of 5

Annie Lyons –
4 out of 5

Rebecca –
5 out of 5

Kathy Gold –
5 out of 5

Marilyn Schurman –
5 out of 5

Elizabeth –
4 out of 5

Bridget Marshall –
4 out of 5

Martha W Johns –
4 out of 5

Eden Ashleigh –
4 out of 5

Bec –
5 out of 5

Annie –