Category: Historical Fiction Publisher: Blue Palm Press
ISBN-10: 097718661X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 202
Copyright: March 23, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780977186617
A chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences and how friendship heals. This is a love story of magnitude.
THE PERSECUTION OF MILDRED DUNLAP
The year 1895 was filled with memorable historical events: the Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address; Richard Olney, United States Secretary of State, expanded the effects of the Monroe Doctrine in settling a boundary dispute between the United Kingdom and Venezuela; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for gross indecency under Britain’s recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense. When news of Wilde’s conviction went out over telegraphs worldwide, it threw a small Nevada town into chaos. This is the story of what happened when the lives of its citizens were impacted by the news of Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment. It is a chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing.
“Paulette Mahurin’s first novel is surefooted and unflinching in its portrayal of a singular and unique character and her compelling struggles. Compassionate and confident, Mahurin allows Mildred’s story to burn through onto the page with all its inherent outrage and tenacious, abiding love. Here is a character we can champion—flawed, striving, surviving— and fully embrace in her awkward, beautiful navigation of a world that resists her in every way.”Deb Norton, Playwrite/screenwriter of The Whole Banana
“If you need to question your values, read this book! The author captures the intolerance and hypocrisy of a 1895 Nevada town, and its transcendence in time through tolerance and understanding. The angst and pain that two women feel daily, living the ‘lie’ of their lesbian relationship, and the prejudice they must endure, is unconscionable. I was moved to tears by their struggle in the face of the conflicted values that continue
to dominate our ‘modern’ society.”William K. Fox, PhD, Professor of Zoology
Paulette Mahurin, an award-winning author, is a Nurse Practitioner who lives in Ojai, California with her husband Terry and their two dogs--Max and Bella. She practices women’s health in a rural clinic and writes in her spare time.
Excerpt
He lapsed into a monologue of exaggerated details, altered beyond
original description: The Negro must have lied, probably has some rich white women sponsoring him because he’s good in bed, and the Jew deserved to be imprisoned for having the gall to try to become something he was not born into. “People should know their place. When they are made by God to be inferior, they should just do their best to stay out of the way of the good hard-working folk who are the backbone of society.”
Mildred was disgusted. Anger welled up into her throat that wanted to be let out in a scream and she felt an urge to pick up one of the horseshoes and whack him to shut him up. As the blood began draining from her head, she felt sick to her stomach. “Oh my,” she mumbled, trying to ease out of the tirade.
He kept on and on, discharging a hatred that gave her chills. She knew then and there, beyond any doubt, that the fear she had felt when she first heard of Oscar Wilde’s conviction was not just about prejudice existing across a continent and ocean, but rather the ignorance that lives in closed minds everywhere. The seeds that grow and inflate the smallest minds into giants, those who believe they can take down anyone with their petty realities, was what she saw full-blown in Pursey. It mattered not whether his reality was based on prejudice, fear, or just plain ignorance, the end result would be the same, ruined lives. The tone in his voice reminded her of Josie that day outside the telegraph office. She now understood why up till that time this sort of talk didn’t bother her.
The hatred was now something personal and she knew, no matter the excuses, that she and Edra no longer were immune from suspicion.
Professional Reviews
Masterful Writing & Important Book
“The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap” is not just about the struggle of two women against a community that condemns same-sex relationships. This important book speaks to the viciousness of all forms of prejudice. It shows how oppression silences and hurts victims. It reveals how close-mindedness and sharp words kill the spirit in others. Author Paulette Mahurin does a masterful job in bringing the characters and scenes to life. The happenings in a small Nevada town in 1895 are cradled within international news about the controversial actions of Oscar Wilde. The historical context gives Mahurin’s book a richness that many novels lack. I wholeheartedly recommend “The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap.” Dr. Carlotte Laws, Author & TV Talk Show Host, NBC
Moving & Intelligent
This book is not only a statement on friendship and tolerance but also of love – physical, emotional and spiritual. The story is moving and intelligently enables us to look at cultural norms that encourage prejudice and bullying. I appreciate Ms. Mahurin proficiency in creating a perfect setting to get to the heart of such controversial issues. The quotes she uses from authors of that time, the late 1800s, add to the backdrop of the story and are also totally appropriate for today. Dr. Jim Dincalci, Author, How to Forgive When You Can’t: The Breakthrough Guide to Free Your Heart and Mind
Captivating & Difficult to Put Down
I am not much of a fiction reader by nature but I was absolutely captivated by The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap. It is a story of love, learning to trust again and just how much more complicated our lives and hearts truly are than what we allow others to see on the surface. The characters are fascinating and the author describes them each in such a manner that you feel as if you have come to know them on a personal basis. Mildred comes across as a real survivor despite everything that has been thrown at her which is certainly something I can relate to in my own life. I found this book difficult to put down and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a novel that truly captivates them. Graham Aitchison, Best Selling Author, No Way Out But Through
“The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap” uses two well-known scandals of 1895 to start off and move along the plot of our protagonists. It is an interesting and skilfully executed set-up, followed by an equally brilliant illustration of how the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde and the anti-Semitism shown in the Dreyfus Affair in France could have been received in a remote and isolated location such as a small town in Nevada.
Each chapter is accompanied by a quotation from Oscar Wilde’s work. I am not usually a fan of poetry and themes used as headings, but the author has chosen them appropriately and very well.
The description of the setting succeeds effortlessly with just enough detail to make it easy for us to imagine we are there with the heroes, but without overloading us with description that gets in the way of the plot. The portrayal of the times seems also very authentic and the dialogue is also very realistic and flows easily.
The way the characters interact with each other is simply brilliantly done and gives the book a lively feeling. The story is much more complex and involved than the beginning and the book title seemed to imply to me – which made this an unpredictable and compulsice reading experience.
The book is an illustration of hate, intolerance and gossip in a small community and is kind and politically correct in its message. At a time when Gay Marriage proposals are being voted on all over the world and homophobia comes back into the spotlight of media attention this story is reminiscent of many of our current arguments.
At first I found it unbelievable and off-putting that some of the characters would – at that time in history – have the understanding and tolerance as the author attributes to them. Then I realised that the same ancient prejudiced views that haunt our Mildred in the book are still around in 2012.
The book is a great piece of work on human nature and I will be recommending it to my friends.
5 out of 5
A compelling and thought provoking story.
As I like both Historical Fiction and Oscar Wilde this book immediately interested me. I was not disappointed.
Some of the other reviews have concentrated on the lesbian/gay aspect of this book. I don't see this as the objective of the story. For me it is the struggle of people who are different against the prejudices of society. Prejudices that unfortunately society still holds today. Race, religion and sexual preferences are all brought into this touching story. The gossip and rumour of a small town forms a focus of irrational hatred fired by one strong and severely bigoted individual. Rising from this are stories of enduring love and friendship.
It is set in a small town in Nevada where the world's news is brought in through the telegraph office, the centre of gossip and congregation. I have never been to Nevada but the descriptions are vivid enough for me to be able to picture this town, its people, their lives and costumes of that period. The characterisations are also vivid. I hated them; I wanted to slap several of them. I cried with some of them, feeling their grief and I empathised with those that were persecuted.
Mahurin peppers this fictional story with factual history of the time through the means of the telegraph office. Stories of Oscar Wilde, the Atlanta Address, Alfred Dreyfus and other religious and political scandals of the day. Each event serves to fuel the hatred of the bigots in this small town.
The main story, that of the generous Mildred and her cousin Edra is beautifully written. Mildred's scheme to hide her relationship has some very unexpected results, one of them terrible. I won't spoil the story for you. It is compelling reading on many different levels and enhanced by a pertinent quotation from Oscar Wilde at the beginning of each chapter.
An impressive read, where tension builds up from the very first pages, following Mildred Dunlap’s life and that of her only friends – Edra and Charley. A life she lives as she wants to, not as the others consider she should. Mildred’s plain looks fed town talk despite her generosity “to most of the people in the town when financial need arose”.
The opening pages mirror the small community’s reaction at hearing the news of Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment because of homosexuality. This will trigger the surfacing of feelings, dormant up to then- prejudice, intolerance and hatred-that live in closed minds. It also brings havoc in the existence of the people who fall victim to the persecution, ignorance and mockery of the other inhabitants of Red River Pass.
The characters are credible and appealing. Along the story we witness significant changes in their behavior and attitude towards each other and towards the whole mean community; a community whose only means of entertainment is gossip and meddling in other people’s lives. Lack of compassion and understanding, pointing fingers to the others brings nothing but destruction.
A strong storyline, with characters who take the reader on their journey of self discovery and revealing the bitter secrets well hidden up to then. Tolerance towards people who‘ve chosen another style of life, friendship and, above all, unconditional love may overcome all barriers and mend old soul’s wounds.
I enjoyed the read that hooked me and kept me reading till the end. An excellent novel and food for thought. Without doubt, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap is one of the best-written books I’ve read this year. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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