Frontispiece photograph of William Upshaw.
Narratives from the sickbed have been popular for centuries. In the nineteenth century, a particular style of sickroom story was popular; it can be loosely described as the “angel in the house” story. This phrase is often used to describe stories that center around women such as Susan Coolidge’s 1870s What Katy Did but it can be stretched to cover narratives with a male protagonist and William David Upshaw’s 1903 “Earnest Willie” or Echoes from a Recluse seems to check the boxes.
The volume is described in its lengthy frontispiece as containing “the earnest heart-throbs” of Upshaw during his years of invalidism. Accompanying the title page is a photograph of Upshaw himself — signed in a florid hand — depicting him in full white tie evening dress sitting in a wheelchair, a pair of crutches propped under one hand. (Look to the left to see the photo.)
Earnest Willie includes photographs of Upshaw as well as selections from his writings and ‘testimonials’ from those who have been connected with him, including from the editor of the Sunny South periodical where Upshaw’s writings first appeared. All the ‘testimonials’ speak to Upshaw’s patience under his trials, his sweetness of heart, and the benefits that his writings have brought to others.
Check out the volume yourself — have a look at Earnest Willie‘s writings — and let us know what you think: was he the angel in his house?
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