Don't go into Folly as It Flies expecting a novel. It’s not that kind of book. This is a collection of short, punchy newspaper columns written by Fanny Fern, one of the highest-paid writers of her day. There’s no continuous plot, but there is a powerful throughline: Fern’s sharp eye and even sharper pen, aimed at the everyday absurdities of 19th-century life.

The Story

Think of each chapter as a separate little essay or observation. One minute, Fern is roasting the impracticality of women’s giant hoop skirts. The next, she’s pointing out the unfairness of laws that give all a family’s money to the husband. She makes fun of pompous men, questions bad parenting, and defends the right of women to have their own opinions and bank accounts. The "story" is simply Fern walking through her world, pointing out the hypocrisy and silliness she sees, and inviting the reader to laugh—or get angry—along with her.

Why You Should Read It

I picked this up expecting a historical curiosity and found a shockingly modern voice. Fern’s humor is her secret weapon. She doesn’t just lecture; she makes you chuckle at the foolishness, which makes her criticisms stick. Her writing feels alive and conversational, like she’s sitting across from you at the kitchen table. What struck me most was how many of her fights are still happening. When she complains about the double standard in how men and women are judged, or the pressure on women to always be pleasant, it doesn’t feel like a relic. It feels urgent. She’s a reminder that people in the past weren’t all conformists; some were brilliantly, hilariously fed up.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves history but hates dry textbooks. It’s for readers who enjoy witty social commentary, like a 19th-century version of a great opinion columnist or satirist. If you’ve ever read something by Nora Ephron or David Sedaris and wondered what a writer with that tone would have been like 150 years ago, meet Fanny Fern. Her ‘folly’ is still flying, and her hits still land perfectly.