The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell
In 1855, women had few choices in American society: they could be wives and mothers, lonely spinsters, or whores. Few women dared to deviate from the rigid gender roles of the time, and stories of those who did never fail to capture our imaginations. This is the story of one such woman. Lucy Lobdell always knew she was different, preferring buckskins and rifles to petticoats and kitchenware. Tired of being treated like an aberration and longing to be more than a glorified servant, one day Lucy chopped off her hair, bound her breasts, and ran away to live as a man named Joseph. For decades she moved from town to town, building one new life after another, rebuilding herself over and over again, until what began as a quest for a better living became something much greater – one individual’s quest for self-definition, or rather, the quest for a life free from definitions, a life where you can be who you want to be and be loved exactly as you are.
This wonderful debut novel tells a story that’s both heartbreaking and inspiring, written with skill, obvious passion, and above all deep respect. It is a personal story that will resonate with readers of all genders, identities, orientations, and backgrounds. See the feature article on the HNS website for more on this excellent novel. This book is highly recommended.
