Fidelity a Novel

A review from Current Opinion, Volume 59: The contention of the English critic Edward Garnett, and of our own William Dean Howells, that the most skillful writers of fiction in America are women, must be further strengthened by the instance of "Fidelity," Susan Glaspell's new novel. The story of a woman ostracized by her family and friends in a small city of the Middle West because of her love for a married man, "Fidelity" nevertheless presents a new and distinctly...
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A review from Current Opinion, Volume 59:

The contention of the English critic Edward Garnett, and of our own William Dean Howells, that the most skillful writers of fiction in America are women, must be further strengthened by the instance of "Fidelity," Susan Glaspell's new novel. The story of a woman ostracized by her family and friends in a small city of the Middle West because of her love for a married man, "Fidelity" nevertheless presents a new and distinctly original view upon the much-discussed "rights of love." Ruth Holland learns, as The Boston Transcript points out, the point of view of the lives touched and hurt by the tragedy of her own. "Against the silent challenge of each, Ruth opposes the strength of her faith and her will, meeting steadfastly the inescapable crisis of her life-a crisis 'incredible' as only reality can be." To some the true greatness and significance of Susan Glaspell's achievement will lie in her challenging conclusion. This conclusion is thus indicated in The Chicago Evening Post:

"One class of novelists treating this theme would, from this point, sing to the tune of 'Love is enough tho the world be a waning.' But Miss Glaspell is as far enough away from that idea as those novelists are from the older idea that reason can control love in the interests of duty. And so she ends her novel with Ruth Holland, though enabled, through the 'conversion'-if that term may be used in a purely human sense-of the injured wife, to reestablish her place in society, turning her back upon the chance to reconcile status and duty with love, and making a new start. For Ruth has seen that love is not enough: it is a big interest, but it must be integrated with the other interests of life. Otherwise it will become a foe and denier of life. And Ruth chooses life."

It is the quality of sincerity in this book that impresses The New York Times. Miss Glaspell has not evaded or shirked the consequences of her heroine's choice. "The story is a big and real contribution to American novels."