Roast Beef Medium

By: Edna Ferber

Narrated by: Suzanne Barbetta

Pulitzer Prize-winner Edna Ferber created three wildly successful books featuring the business adventures of a dynamic, divorced single mother at the turn of the century. The first book in this classic series introduces listeners to the engaging, beautiful, and quick-talking Emma McChesney, traveling saleswoman for the T.A. Buck Featherloom Petticoat Company. Emma's 10 years on the road have taught her that living the Philosophy of Roast Beef, Medium allows her to avoid "moral pepsin" while meeting the challenges required to win in a man's world.

Armed with a sample case, killer instincts, and common sense, Emma faces wily salesmen, advances of hotel clerks and customers, and reins in her headstrong, 17-year-old son. This audiobook is populated with the strongly drawn secondary characters and witty social observances Ferber stories are known for.

Public Domain (P)2017 Suzanne Barbetta

love Emma McChesney!

Emma McChesney is a fantastic character and it is hard to believe that she was written more than 100 years ago! This woman is strong, creative, smart, funny ... she has fortitude. This woman would be considered a feminist by today's standards.

Upbeat Story about a 1910's Travelling Saleswoman

An eye opening story about the life of Emma McChesney, a saleswoman in her mid-30's, divorcee, with a 17 year-old son, who has been on the road for ten years in the Midwest representing a petticoat company. Published in 1913, it was startling to read how safe Emma felt in overwhelmingly male environments. When a hotel was fully booked, she immediately suggested they put up a cot for her in the hall to sleep on. She described how the dress code in sleeper cars at night was relaxed, so women could walk about even in the presence of strange men, in kimonos, standing at the open balcony at the end of the car to cool themselves on summer nights. Emma earns more than her male colleagues, and is recognized by all as a great saleswoman. Wonderful turns of phrase and great writing. Excellent performance by the narrator. The first of three books about Emma.

A Trip Back To The Good Ol' Days!

LOVED THIS LISTEN! This story about a stylish Midwestern traveling saleswoman was such fun to listen to! The characters were so colorful and witty---my favorites were "Fat" Ed Myer and Blanche LeHay. Suzanne Barbetta does a fabulous job of bringing each character to life and making you feel as though you're laying on your living room rug again when you were a kid, listening to an old-time radio show. Her voice and performance are perfection! Although the story was set in an era when a woman's "place" was 'in the home', Emma McChesney was no shrinking violet and proved more than once she could hold her own in a man's world......You go, Girl! I can't wait to listen to the next installment in the series, Personality Plus :)