Books with author Ethel N. Farnsworth

Out of print for decades, The Man on Horseback: A Story of Life among the West Virginia Hills by Dr. F. F. Farnsworth has been published as an e-book.First published in 1921, the novel depicts rural West Virginia during the early 1900s. The story centers on "Altoona," a fictitious village near Buckhannon, West Virginia, and follows its characters to the state capital, the nation's capital, Europe, and home again. Written by the physician, state health official, and state legislator Floyd Forney Farnsworth, M.D., the book is an unvarnished look at the impact of social problems such as alcohol use, prostitution, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) around the time of the World War I. Writing before the advent of antibiotic medications, which have done much to control STIs, the author pays particular attention to syphilis.Dr. Farnsworth tells most of the story through the eyes of the title character, John Scott, a generous, upstanding, loyal citizen. Having withdrawn from romantic pursuits after being jilted years before, Scott renews his determination to perpetuate the Scott family name after the death of his father.As Scott develops friendships with three eligible women, he witnesses the anguish that many West Virginians felt as developments in technology and global affairs disrupted traditional rural life. In the course of the story, Scott works to improve his financial standing, serve his country in France, soften the effects of various calamities on his friends and loved ones, and finally find a wife.The result is a tale of longing, regret, and redemption. The novel is remarkable for its authentic portrayal of the troubled lives of its characters, focusing mainly on the destructive impact of syphilis on a naive young woman. Other noteworthy depictions include a knife fight among drunken laborers, the pathos of a drunken man's visit to a house of prostitution, and the main character's work in an Army camp in Europe for American soldiers with STIs. The author's knowledge of his subject matter came from his experiences as a physician and state health official.