The Publicist for this book Books Forward, reached out to me and asked me to read this novel and consider writing a book review. This is something I do on occasion, and have done so with Books Forward twice before. I did receive a free paperback, but was not compensated in any other way for this review. This is my honest opinion and book review A Wolff in the Family by Francine Falk-Allen.

Life as Fiction

This is a novel based on a true story. Author Francine Falk-Allen learned only as an adult, that her aunts and uncles had been given to an orphanage by Francine’s grandfather. This unexpected information stopped Francine in her tracks. Why had her own mother, Frances, never spoke about this dark time in her family history. This remarkable tale has bones that are true, but the author created a great deal to keep the plot moving forward. I found the book similar to “Sold on a Monday” and a few other similar stories in the early 20th century where orphanages processed children for many reasons including poverty, infidelity and neglect.

A Wolff in the Family

The thing I take away from this book more than any other, is how difficult life was for women in the early 1900’s. The author’s grandmother, Naomi, gave birth to 14 children – there was no birth control. She cared exclusively for these children, while her husband Frank spent most of his time traveling for his job with railroads. Frank provided financially for the family, but did not help raise the children or help around the house. Not unusual for the time, but how many babies did they really need? Naomi, though steadfast and hardworking could not possibly give the attention and love needed to all of these children. She was over her head with physical and emotional strain. Much of the child rearing and housework fell to the two oldest daughters, Frances and Anita.

A Wolff in Sheep’s Clothing

Not surprising or unusual, Frank had women in many of the cities he traveled to. One particular women, Minnie he fell in love with and even fathered at least one child with her. Though Naomi suspected Frank’s infidelities, she had no recourse. But when Frank suspects Naomi too is having an affair he does something very dramatic. He has her legally declared an unfit mother. She is forced to leave her children and go live with her mother.

Frank has clearly not thought through the consequences of this, and is left scrambling to find care for the children still living at home. When Minnie refuses to have all of them live in her home, Frank takes two of the oldest boys to his mother. One boy who is only 13 at the time becomes a drifter. And then Frank does the unthinkable. He takes the five smallest children to an orphanage and turns his back on them.

Family-Ties

It’s no wonder Naomi turns to another man after living under the thumb of Frank and his physical and emotional abuse. But she misses her children terribly as they are scattered to the wind. How will this family find each other again? Can they heal and forgive? Each one finds a different path forward, including both Frank and Naomi but at what cost mentally to all?

This story is not all that unusual for the era…but so often these skeletons in the closet are buried forever in shame. Families often find it hard to process the brutal truth, the difficult gender roles of the time, the racism, infidelity and human failing of our own ancestors. Falk-Allen, though a bit long-winded (my only criticism) makes us all wonder more deeply about our own families and the unspeakable truths hidden in the past.

****Four stars for A Wolff in the Family by Francine Falk-Allen. See last week’s book review Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.

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