#Mrs. O.F. Walton

[uwmspeccoll]

Publishers’ Binding Thursday

This week’s Publishers’ Binding Thursday is a lovely floral binding in raspberry, green, blue, and gold. The book is Olive’s Story by Mrs. O.F. Walton, published in London by the Religious Tract Society in 1882. Mrs. O.F. Walton is Amy Catherine Walton, who published under her husband Octavius Frank Walton’s name and became well known for her religious stories. The Religious Tract Society was an organization founded by British evangelical Christians in 1799 that published periodicals and books most often with religious themes. This book is part of our Historical Curriculum Collection. 

The binding is a bid faded, but lovely, featuring raspberries, flowers, and leaves stamped in a raspberry color in alternating blue and green rectangular blocks. The title and author’s name sit in a gold rectangle—the title stamped in raspberry and the author’s name in blue. The spine features a similar design, with the insignia of the Religious Tract Society at the bottom. 

There's also a sweet Christmas card from one friend to another tucked in, and the evidence of the book owner's award for good attendance!

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-- Alice, Special Collections Department Manager

[samuelalrick]

by Mrs. O.F. Walton, Amy Catherine Walton This picture is based on one of my Favorite books from the 1800's  Peep Behind the Scenes. I encourage you to read this book, or you can listen to an audio version of it which you can find on Audible and Youtube. I've copied the synopsis for you to read "Behind many smiling faces there hides a hurting heart, and for what may appear to be glamorous, there is usually a high price to pay. Mrs. Walton gives us a glimpse into the life of a disillusioned young actress. In her fabricated world of glamour and glitz, Rosalie finds solace in the words of a gentle old man who gives her a picture of a Shepherd who loves and cares for her. Her travels take on new meaning as she shares with the “down-and-outters” about this wonderful Shepherd who loves them too. This profound century-old story is still relevant in today’s entertainment-enmeshed culture. Often, hidden behind smiling faces are hurting hearts, and that which is attractive and alluring may be a facade, concealing the hard reality of life behind the scenes. This dramatic book is both powerful and sensitive, and sold over two and a half million copies in the 19th Century! It continues to be a favorite among our collectors."