Delia is a confident young woman who works as a housekeeper for a small
family. Every morning, she gets up before everyone else and makes
breakfast for each family member, then starts on her cleaning tasks.
Despite her close relationship with the family she works for, Delia
feels that she has more potential and does not like working a housemaid.
She feels disrespected by some members in the family, and wants to try
to find another job. After meeting with her friend, Minnie, Delia
decides that she will quit her job. She wakes up the next morning and
refuses to make the breakfast as usual. Instead, she tells the family of
her decision and asked for the wages she's due. Even though the family
protests, Delia gets her wages and goes off to live with Minnie.
However, Delia soon learns that the world is not kind to working women,
and she struggles to find a well-paying job. Poor and unsure what to do,
Delia remains optimistic and fights to find the best place for her.
Set in the early 1900s, The Diary of Delia is an intimate account of
life as a poor working woman. Featuring detailed descriptions of
landscapes, customs and dialects, The Diary of Delia acts a valuable
and entertaining historical source. With animate and memorable
characters, Onoto Watanna creates a historical narrative that still
feels fresh and compelling to a modern audience.
First published in 1907, Onoto Watanna's The Diary of Delia is rarely
found in print. This special edition features a stunning cover design
and is printed in an easy-to-read font. With these accommodations, this
edition of The Diary of Delia caters to contemporary readers by
restoring the novel to modern standards while preserving the original
intimacy of Onoto Watanna's work.
