Men offered everything they possessed to possess her -- but there was only one man she wanted. From him she asked only love.

A Woman Called Fancy, published in 1951, is Frank Yerby's first novel with a female protagonist. Set in Augusta, Georgia, the novel covers the period from 1880 to 1894 and traces the rise of the heroine, a beautiful South Carolina woman, from poverty to prominence among Augusta's artistocrats.

Fancy fled an incestuous marriage arranged by a drunken father. She had little education and no money. But with the priceless gifts of courage, honor and high personal integrity, Fancy won out against all odds and wrenched from life a position of respect and security.... a life that was secure against everyone except her husband. Court Brantley, had already killed one man for her and Fancy knew that if he ever found out about Jed Hawkins he would do so again.

*Warning: Many derogatory, ethnic slangs and other 'swear' words, used throughout this book. The taboo ''N'' word used to extreme, in line with the angry (now unacceptable), Post-Civil War language spoken, during that period, of more than one 'non-lily-white' race. HOWEVER, please read the entire historical novel, keeping in mind that the author/historian of this book was 1/2 African-American, 1/2 caucasian. _this opinion is not necessarily that of Open Library, but it is the opinion of this volunteer reviewer/editor - EDP.*