With one hand on her sample case and the other fending off advances from salesmen, hotel clerks, and other predators, Emma holds on tightly to her reputation: honest, hardworking, and able to outsell the slickest salesman.Saratoga Trunk by Edna Ferber is one of my favorite books. However, every time I tried one of her other big books like Giant or So Big I never liked them. Then I discovered the first book of this trilogy — Roast Beef-Medium — at the podcast Love's Tender Flame (season 3). The podcast features gentle, sweet romances from the early 1900s. I like books from this time period although Edgar Wallace's thriller/mysteries usually are the ones that attract my attention. And I recommend the podcast and others where Mardell reads. I guess Ferber can write other books I like!
Roast Beef-Medium follows Emma McChesney who is a top-selling female "drummer" (traveling salesperson) in a time when they are definitely a rarity. Divorced 10 years before this book begins, she's also a single mother. Most of all, Emma is a delightful character who is intelligent and brimming with common sense. You never know what situation she'll find herself in but she's always going to come out on top.
I also tend to enjoy books about working women in this time period in general. Lady Molly of Scotland Yard is also good, by the author of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Baronness Orczy
