The Avalanche

Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton was a prolific American author known for her novels set in California, including the bestseller Black Oxen, which inspired a silent film. Her literary contributions extend beyond fiction to essays and articles addressing feminism, politics, and war. Atherton faced familial ostracism after revealing her authorship of her first publication, leading her to relocate to New York and travel to London before returning to California. Her debut novel, What Dreams May Come, was published in 1888 under a pseudonym.