The Treasure - Norris, Kathleen

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Résumé :
The Treasure explores the complexities of domestic life and the evolving roles of women in the early 20th century. It centers on a woman's struggle to maintain order and economy in her household, facing challenges from both a careless maid and a family that seems indifferent to the demands of domestic duties. The tension between societal expectations of women as caretakers and their personal desires for fulfillment and autonomy plays a significant role in the narrative. The arrival of a graduate from a domestic science school introduces a new hope for efficiency and order, but also presents additional challenges and conflicts. The book delves into issues of class, gender, and the tensions between tradition and modernity. It explores how domestic spaces, once considered the sole domain of women, are influenced by broader social changes. The family s internal struggles reflect the wider social dilemmas of the time, particularly for women trying to navigate the expectations placed upon them while seeking personal growth and satisfaction. Through the dynamics of the Salisbury family, the novel examines the intersection of duty, personal ambition, and societal pressure, revealing the hidden struggles beneath the surface of everyday life....

Sommaire:
Kathleen Thompson Norris was an American novelist and newspaper columnist. Norris was a prolific writer, having written 93 novels, many of which were great sellers. Her stories were published often in the popular press of the time, including The Atlantic, The American Magazine, McClure's, Everybody's, Ladies' Home Journal, and Woman's Home Companion. Norris' novels promoted family and moralistic principles such as the sanctity of marriage, the dignity of motherhood, and the significance of service to others. Kathleen Thompson Norris was born in San Francisco, California, on July 16, 1880. Her parents were Josephine (n e Moroney) and James Alden Thompson. When she was 19, both of her parents died. As the oldest sibling, she was essentially the head of a huge family and had to work. She first worked in a retail store, then in an accounting office, and last at the Mechanic's Institute Library. In 1905, she enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley's creative writing program and started creating short stories. In September 1906, the San Francisco Call, which had previously published several of her stories, engaged her to write a society column....