Summary of Robert J. Mrazek's The Indomitable Florence Finch

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 In 1899, Charlie Ebersole arrived in the Philippines aboard the hospital ship USS Missouri. He was a young American medic, and he volunteered in a spirit of high adventure. But the war changed him, and he soon lost his illusions of glory and high adventure.

#2 Charlie Ebersole, after serving in the Philippines, bought a plantation in Isabela Province. He was able to save money, and in 1907, he bought a plantation along the Calao River in Santiago.

#3 Charlie began growing tobacco on his plantation, and soon began exporting it to the United States. He built a house at the edge of the river, and his family grew as four children were born to him and his wife, Maria.

#4 When they returned to the plantation, Maria was furious. She accused her daughter of seducing her husband. With the same cold-blooded attitude that had empowered him to steal Maria from her husband, Charlie gave her an ultimatum: accept his decision or be cast out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: May 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822525504

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Insights from Chapter 1

#1

In 1899, Charlie Ebersole arrived in the Philippines aboard the hospital ship USS Missouri. He was a young American medic, and he volunteered in a spirit of high adventure. But the war changed him, and he soon lost his illusions of glory and high adventure.

#2

Charlie Ebersole, after serving in the Philippines, bought a plantation in Isabela Province. He was able to save money, and in 1907, he bought a plantation along the Calao River in Santiago.

#3

Charlie began growing tobacco on his plantation, and soon began exporting it to the United States. He built a house at the edge of the river, and his family grew as four children were born to him and his wife, Maria.

#4

When they returned to the plantation, Maria was furious. She accused her daughter of seducing her husband. With the same cold-blooded attitude that had empowered him to steal Maria from her husband, Charlie gave her an ultimatum: accept his decision or be cast out.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

Charlie began to formalize his relationship with Flaviana by having her marry him in a small chapel on the plantation. Maria was furious, and the children were punished for what they believed were their mother’s transgressions.

#2

Charlie took the sisters to the Union Church Hall school in Manila, where they would continue their formal education. He planned to legally acknowledge them as his natural children and grant them American citizenship.

Insights from Chapter 3

#1

When Loring arrived in Manila, she was assigned to the Union Church Hall boarding school. She was told that she would share a room with ten other girls. The school set aside an hour before bedtime for personal activities.

#2

Charlie’s business was suffering because of the worldwide glut of tobacco following World War I. In 1927, he was forced to shutter the tobacco farm, and he began sending his children money to pay for their tuition.

#3

After Charlie’s death, a legal battle ensued over who was the legitimate heir to the substantial estate. Florence was deeply saddened, but she continued to excel in every subject, and became a mentor to the young mestizas at Union Church Hall.

#4

Florence became a de facto assistant manager of the club, overseeing some of the daily operations of the front office, including the planning of special events and athletic competitions. She was promoted to executive assistant to the YMCA’s general manager, H. J. Scofield, two years later.

#5

In 1937, the Imperial Japanese