Gene Stratton-Porter

[Eric or Pat Metzler]

Sheri,

Interesting.  One of the reasons Porter's books are so expensive is the
mania about her in the heartland.  When shopping for a copy of "Moths of
the Limberlost" you are competing with all the other Gene
Stratton-Porter aficionados out there, and there are a lot of them.  One
dealer in Indiana told me that her books are some of the most
collectible books around here (I'm in Ohio).  $100.00 is a cheap price
for any of her books now.  Too bad.

Cheers,

Eric

Sheri Moreau wrote:
> 
> Charles Gavette wrote a moving email on one of my most favorite
> authors, and the woman who is directly responsible for getting me
> involved in Lepidoptera. As a child, I inherited my grandmother's copy
> of GSP's "A Girl of the Limberlost" and have read it at least once
> annually ever since. Have also managed to obtain a number of her other
> books, although an affordable copy of "The Moths of the Limberlost"
> has thus far eluded me.
> 
> I've always been curious as to whether she changed the spelling of her
> name from "Jean/Jeanne" to the masculine form "Gene" to increase her
> book sales, as so many other early women writers were forced to do
> (George Sand, for example).
> 
> I was unaware of how Gene died. How bizarre that like our local
> naturalist celebrity here in Monterey, CA, "Doc" Ed Ricketts, it was
> as a result of a senseless, easily avoidable accident (Ed's car was
> hit by a train while he was on a beer run for some friends who'd
> dropped by his Lab).
> 
> At any rate, Charles, could you please share the URL for the page you
> mentioned? I didn't realize Indiana had "shrines" to her memory, and
> now foresee a trip to the midlands in my near future! And to think I
> spent years of my life only 50 miles from Indiana!!!
> 
> Thanks again for the info!
> 
> Sheri <sheri at butterflywings.com>
> 
> >>>>
> 
>      A Gene Stratton-Porter page is located on the
>      Internet. This coming spring and summer, I would like to
>      visit the
>      Limberlost Cabin, which was home to one who was a direct
>      influence on my
>      love for the Lepidoptera 38 years ago. Hope to see you
>      there.