Biblio Library

‘Josiah Allen on the Woman Question’ (1914) was written by best-selling American writer and humourist Marietta Holley and is a short story featuring her well-known characters, Samantha and Josiah Allen.

Concerned about the rise of women's suffrage, Josiah Allen plans to write a book, detailing all the reasons women are no match for men but his hilarious arguments only have the opposite effect.

Holley’s hugely successful series of Samantha books focus on the character of the sage, small-town woman, Samantha Allen, and her satirical escapades across America with her half-witted husband, Josiah Allen.

Fans of Holley's work and those interested in reading a story with a Twainesque style will surely love this short story.




Marietta Holley (1836–1926) was an American best-selling author and humourist who used satire to comment on U.S. society and politics. She began her literary career writing for newspapers and women’s magazines before publishing her first novel, ‘My Opinions and Betsy Bobbet's’ in 1873.

Holley went on to write over 20 novels, including ‘Round the World with Samantha at the Centennial’ (1876), ‘My Wayward Pardner’ (1880), ‘Miss Richard's Boy’ (1882), and ‘Josiah Allen's Wife’ (1899).

Her works popularised women’s rights and criticised sexual double standards and the exploitation of labour. Often compared to Mark Twain, Seba Smith, Benjamin Shillaber, and Frances M. Whitcher, she is one of America's great female humourists.