Fair to Look Upon: A Feminist’s Reinterpretation of the Bible

TO HONOR AND OBEY...?

First published in 1892, Mary Belle Freeley’s Fair to Look Upon stands as a trailblazing feminist gem far ahead of its time. In a bold defiance of traditional gender roles, the protagonist challenges her fiance’s expectation of obedience, leading to a postponed wedding until she studies the Bible to grasp the art of being a ’dutiful’ wife.

What unfolds is a captivating narrative that offers a witty, sardonic, and wholly enjoyable reinterpretation of various Old Testament stories. Through the narrator’s eyes, these tales reveal intelligent, manipulative, and courageous women who are anything but submissive to their husbands...

Mary Belle Freeley’s enigmatic background adds an extra layer of intrigue to this astonishing achievement. With original illustrations by W. L. Dodge, Fair to Look Upon, as part of the ITNA ICONS Collection, is a nuanced and entertaining analysis of a woman’s role in marriage that deserves a place on every contemporary young woman’s reading list.