Sensational, lurid, and racy, “Impatient Virgin” by Donald Henderson Clarke is an American pulp fiction novel published in 1931.

About the Book

Because Ruth Robbins was dazzlingly blonde and splendidly put together, the small New England town where she was born and raised thought her “fast.” It was even rumored that she believed in free love. And everyone from the handsome Myron, the deacon’s son to Mr. Hasbrouk, the president of the bank, tried to make love to her.

Ruth’s one real friend was her Uncle Ben. He taught her that whenever her instincts told her she was right, she was right. “If you would like to get drunk or have a palace to live in, recognize the desire in yourself– don’t treat those urges merely as thoughts the devil has put in your mind,” he advised her. But Uncle Ben didn’t live to see Ruth put her advice into practice. he died soon after she left college. Three days later Ruth started for the big city.

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My Review

Ruth Robbins was blonde, beautiful, and ahead of her times thank to the influence of her friend, guardian, and uncle Ben. Unlike her peers, Ruth wasn’t in a hurry to get married. And she certainly wouldn’t marry a man before living with him to test things out. That included pre-marital sex. The people in the small town where she was born and raised were horrified. They believed her to be fast and a believer in “free love”, especially the deacon who disowned his son Myron for refusing to stay away. Myron didn’t care. He wanted to marry Ruth, but she turned him down without a thought. He gave up everything for her. She didn’t like that anymore than she liked the idea of being poor if she became his wife.

When her Uncle Ben passed away unexpectantly, Ruth blackmailed the president of the bank in order to pay off her family debts and move to the big city. There, she attracted the attention of a wealthy man named Albert. Even though she wouldn’t make love to him as he wanted, she had no problem letting him pay for an apartment, tennis lessons, dance lessons, and even secretary school. Behind his back, she still saw Myron who had become a taxicab driver. The two finally made love, but he cut ties with her when she rejected marriage again. Realizing she’s pregnant a short time later, she decided abortion was her best option under the circumstances. However, a visit with her doctor, an intimate talk with Albert months later, and news about Myron changed her mind about a few things — and took her on a life changing, last-minute adventure.

Sensational, lurid, and racy, “Impatient Virgin” by Donald Henderson Clarke is an American pulp fiction novel. Published in 1931, the language used in the book is dated, but that doesn’t stop it from being a naughty, fun read. I picked it up because I saw it categorized as erotica. I was curious what erotica was like back then. Turns out, it’s not nearly as graphic as it is now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t raise the “interest” of some readers.

About the Author

Donald Henderson Clarke was born on August 24, 1887 in South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA. Donald Henderson was a writer, known for Female (1933), The Ghost Ship (1943) and The Housekeeper’s Daughter (1939).

Donald Henderson died on March 27, 1958 in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Source: IMDb