Yonnondio: from the thirties

Tillie Olsen began writing Yonnondio in the 1930s, but it remained unfinished for decades. It was eventually published in 1974, making it her first novel despite being conceived much earlier in her career.

Yonnondio shares thematic concerns with Olsen's other writings, particularly its focus on the struggles of working-class women and families, and the impact of poverty on their lives and aspirations. It is often seen as a foundational text for understanding her later short stories and essays.