book

A Price Beyond Rubies: A Novel of the Civil War

(A Price Beyond Rubies, Barry's first work of fiction, tak...)

A Price Beyond Rubies, Barry's first work of fiction, takes place in the Arkansas Ozarks and is based on the long-hidden memoirs of her grandfather, a fiercely independent Arkansas pioneer who fought on the Union side against his own brothers. It is the story of a hard-headed man, Pleasant Houston Spears, veteran of the Second Regiment, First Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, and his beautiful, high-spirited wife Sarah, based on the character of the author's grandmother. The author says: "I have retold their story from my grandmother's point of view. The title comes from the 31st chapter of Proverbs: Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." A Price Beyond Rubies is not only true to the spirit of the times of the Civil War and the Western Border, but also to what Barry terms "the fundamental equation between men and women." This 1860s novel characterizes the independent, strong women of that day as they come up against the power and control of their men. And interestingly, Barry is amazingly consistent in her character observations throughout both her fiction and nonfiction works. Her guide for the professional woman, Cinderella Doesn't Work Here Anymore, published in 1991, begins: "It is the exceptional woman who practices the science of rational choice in the pursuit of her own happiness. . . . Our favorite story was Cinderella who was the epitome of passivity and the recipient of the most magic." This newest work, A Price Beyond Rubies, explodes with "exceptional" women, like Sarah Griffin Flint, who even then challenged the Cinderella myths and who, though never passive, still were recipients of the "magic." Barry has made every effort to correlate the fictional characters and events with historical records as well as with her grandfather's autobiography. The result is a novel which by today's standards might be politically incorrect -- yet, Barry states, "since my grandfather was considered by the Ku Klux Klan to be a dangerous radical who aided and abetted the education of Negroes, I have no doubt that he would have appreciated the irony of my position." A Price Beyond Rubies is a masterful portrait of a tumultuous era.

Louise McCants Barry Edit Profile

college official

Background

Barry, Louise McCants was born on April 22, 1924 in Appleton, Arkansas, United States. Daughter of Jesse Blaine and Piety Ethel (Griffin) Spears.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma State University, l944; Master of Science, Oklahoma State University, l948; Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, l974.

Career

Statistician Stanolind Oil & Gas Company, Tulsa, 1944-1946. Instructor Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, 1946-1949. Analytical statistician United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1949-1952.

Professor mathematics Sinclair Community College, Dayton, 1966-1978. Director research University Mid-American, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1978-1979. Academy dean Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1979-1983.

Director instruction Metropolitan Community Colleges, Kansas City, Missouri, 1983-1988. Consultant numerous colleges in the United States and Great Britain, l974--.

Achievements

Louise Mccants Barry has been listed as a noteworthy college official by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

A Price Beyond Rubies: A Novel of the Civil War A Price Beyond Rubies: A Novel of the Civil War

book
- A Price Beyond Rubies: A Novel of the Civil War
  (A Price Beyond Rubies, Barry's first work of fiction, tak...)

Membership

Member Iowa Humanities Board, l980-83. Board directors Cedar Rapids Symphony, l980-83, United Way Fund Drive, Cedar Rapids, l982, Missouri Humanities Council, l984—, Missouri Bio-Ethics Council, l987—. Delegate Iowa Republican Convention, l982.

Member American Association Community Junior Colleges, National Speakers Association, Kansas City Women's Committee of C. (education committee since 1986), Friends of Art, American Association of University Women, Civil War Roundtable, Western Posse, Phi Mu Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi.

Connections

Married Robert Orville McCants, August 22, 1947 (divorced 1982). Children: Blaine, Janice, Robert. Married William Burnett Barry, February 16, 1993.

Father:: Jesse Blaine Spears
Mother:: Piety Ethel (Griffin) Spears
Spouse:: Robert Orville McCants
Spouse:: William Burnett Barry
child:: Robert Barry
child:: Janice Barry
child:: Blaine Barry

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Born

April 22, 1924
Nationality
American
Religion
Roman Catholic

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book

A Price Beyond Rubies: A Novel of the Civil War

Louise McCants Barry Edit Profile

Background

Education

Career

Achievements

Works

book

Membership

Connections

Born

Nationality

Religion