Fiddle-Dee-Dee: A Gone with the Wind Podcast

No summary on this one. Enjoy the last episode of the readalong!A sincere thank you to everyone who has listened, commented, and read along with me.

Summary:Scarlett briefly goes to Tara to recuperate from her miscarriage. Rhett tricks Scarlett into selling her mills to Ashley. Rhett buys Bonnie a pony and she takes to the sport of jumping immediately. After several tantrums, Rhett acquiesces to a bar higher from the ground, resulting in Bonnie's death. Rhett refuses to let Bonnie be buried because she is afraid of the dark, and can only be persuaded by Melanie to allow the funeral to take place. Scarlett is frightened as Rhett lapses into alcoholism.

Summary:Melanie prepares a surprise birthday party for Ashley. Scarlett and Ashley are caught in a platonic embrace at the mill, spurring rumors of adultery. Rhett forces Scarlett to attend the birthday party, where Melanie loyally stands by her side. At home, a drunken Rhett carries Scarlett up the stairs and they get freaky with each other. Rhett leaves home for three months, taking Bonnie with him. Melanie publicly defends Scarlett in the face of the Old Guard. Upon Rhett's return, Scarlett reveals to him that she is pregnant, resulting in an argument in which Scarlett falls down the stairs and miscarries. Rhett drunkenly cries on Melanie's lap.

In 2023, the first half of Gone with the Wind was published in graphic novel form - in French! Another installment was released in 2025 and covered the second half of the story. This episode goes over the content in both graphic novels, illustrated by Pierre Alary. In the 2020s, what was omitted and what was kept in? What changed and what stayed the same?

Summary:Scarlett is furious to discover she is pregnant. After the birth of his daughter Bonnie, Rhett surprises Atlanta by transforming into a devoted father. Scarlett visits Ashley at the mill, prompting her to evict Rhett from her bedroom for good. Rhett is distressed to learn that Wade is being shunned from Atlanta society and slowly repairs his reputation to ensure Bonnie's future success. Bonnie has nightmares due to a fear of the dark and starts sleeping in Rhett's bedroom.

Summary:On the night of Frank's funeral, Rhett proposes to Scarlett. Scarlett and Rhett marry barely a year after Frank's death, scandalizing Atlanta. Rhett takes Scarlett on an extravagant honeymoon in New Orleans. Melanie castigates her sewing circle for gossiping about the Butlers in her home. Scarlett and Rhett build a large Gothic mansion in Atlanta. Scarlett hosts an elaborate reception to which she invites the Yankee governor, General Bullock, thereby destroying her reputation among the Old Guard. Scarlett continues to throw wild parties and associates with Scallawags and Carpetbaggers.

In 2023, the South Korean TV series My Dearest premiered and was quickly classified by viewers as a loose adaptation of Gone with the Wind. This episode provides a brief summary and review of the show for the curious.

Summary:Scarlett learns that her foreman Johnnie Gallegher is abusing the convicts and stealing their food, but hesitates to fire him. Scarlett is attacked by thieves when driving through Shantytown and is rescued by Big Sam. After her assault, Frank instructs Scarlett to go to Melanie's house for the evening. Rhett arrives and informs Melanie that her husband is walking into a trap. Melanie confesses to Scarlett that Frank and Ashley are members of the Klan and are off to raid the woods where she was attacked. Rhett devises a plan to sneak the men into Belle Watling's, thereby proving their innocence. Scarlett learns that Ashley was shot and Frank was killed in the raid. Belle visits Melanie in her carriage.

Summary:After learning of his plans to relocate to New York, Scarlett finagles Ashley into managing one of her lumber mills. Melanie and Ashley purchase their first home, which becomes the center of social activity in Atlanta. Scarlett gives birth to a daughter, Ella Lorena. Frank forbids Scarlett from leaving the house alone after a recent lynching. Melanie sends a former convict, Archie, to become Scarlett's bodyguard and drive her on her rounds. Archie quits after Scarlett starts using convict labor to operate her mills. Rhett returns to Atlanta after a mysterious absence and reproaches Scarlett for employing Ashley.

I react to various unpopular opinions in the fandom! Do you agree with these takes? What unpopular opinions do you have?Thank you to all who responded. :)

Summary:Scarlett becomes a fierce competitor in the lumber business and purchases a second mill, but struggles to find a good man to work for her. Rhett begins to drive Scarlett to and from her mills every day. Scarlett receives news that Gerald is dead and returns to Tara for his funeral. Will relates the story of Suellen attempting to trick Gerald into signing the Iron Clad oath. At the funeral, Will announces he is to marry Suellen. Grandma Fontaine discusses marriage and social class with Scarlett.

“Tomorrow is another day” is one of the most inspirational ending lines of a novel…or is it? Is Scarlett's defense against the world unhealthy, and if so, when?

Summary:Scarlett runs into Frank Kennedy on her way home from the jail. Upon learning he is making good money with his new store, Scarlett lies to Frank that Suellen has broken their engagement and marries him herself. Scarlett borrows money from Rhett to buy a sawmill and goes into the lumber business, earning the condemnation of her neighbors. Tony Fontaine arrives at Aunt Pitty's house after having murdered Jonas Wilkerson. Scarlett reveals to Frank that she is pregnant. Whew, this girl is busy, isn't she?

Summary: Scarlett learns that she must pay three hundred dollars more in taxes on Tara. Scarlett and Ashley share a passionate embrace in the orchard. Jonas Wilkerson arrives at Tara with his new wife Emmie Slattery and makes threats to buy Tara. Scarlett schemes to marry Rhett and sews a dress out of curtains. Scarlett returns to Atlanta and attempts to seduce Rhett, whom she finds is in jail.

"Bad mother" is a descriptor that often crops up regarding Scarlett O'Hara, both in the story and in the fandom. This episode will examine Scarlett's complex feelings towards her children and seek to answer the pressing question: does she actually love them?

Summary: Sherman's army invades Tara. The household begins to starve as cold weather sets in. Scarlett has a recurring nightmare of running in mist. Soldiers visit Tara for Christmas. Frank Kennedy proposes to Suellen. Cathleen Calvert marries Mr. Hilton, a Yankee overseer. The Confederacy surrenders, ending the war. A convalescent soldier named Will Benteen joins the household. Ashley finally returns home.

Summary: Scarlett finds her way back to Tara, only to learn that her mother has passed away. Mammy and Dilcey relate the story of Ellen's death and the Yankees' use of Tara as headquarters. Gerald goes senile after the loss of Ellen. Scarlett goes searching for food the following morning, vowing never to be hungry again. Scarlett shoots a Yankee deserter who attempts to steal, and Melanie helps her hide the body. Scarlett uses the Yankee's horse to visit the nearby Fontaines. The household begins to pick cotton to sell.

Summary: Scarlett learns that both of her sisters and her mother are now ill with typhoid. The day after the Battle of Atlanta, Melanie goes into labor. Scarlett and Prissy are forced to deliver the baby without a doctor as the wounded fall back into Atlanta. Rhett assists with evacuating the household as the army retreats. Rhett kisses Scarlett and professes his love for her, but abandons her to join the army.

Welcome to what is probably my most subjective episode. I go through all the dresses in the film adaptation and place them all into tiers! Final tier list (spoilers!):https://imgur.com/a/A7MtGUzMake your own!:https://tiermaker.com/create/gone-with-the-wind-dresses-1039319-2

Summary: Conditions worsen in the hospital as the fighting draws near. Aunt Pittypat throws a dinner party where they eat their last chicken. Atlanta is suddenly bombarded with shells. Aunt Pittypat refugees to Macon, but Scarlett stays with Melanie, who is now heavily pregnant. Scarlett learns that her sister is ill with typhoid and she cannot go home to Tara. Rhett asks Scarlett to become his mistress.

Summary:Scarlett and Melanie anxiously await casualty lists after the Battle of Gettysburg. Ashley comes to Atlanta during his Christmas furlough and shares a kiss with Scarlett prior to departure. Scarlett is shocked to learn that Melanie is pregnant. Ashley is taken prisoner by the Yankees and refuses an opportunity to be released.

Gone with the Wind has enjoyed many stage adaptations over the years, from 1966 all the way to 2025. This episode discusses each show's unique history, creative liberties and varying degrees of success.LINKS!!! (So you can see what I'm talking about)1966 play and 1970 musical "Scarlett" (Japan):https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1270184001294910&set=pcb.23909215045377956https://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/07/25/kay-brown-barrett-first-victim-scarlett-fever1972/1976 "Scarlett" adaptation (UK, USA):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpjQd37byiMhttps://neptsdepths.blogspot.com/2012/09/blown-away.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeAAya6i_UI&list=PLPXncXaHAlDxHw0NFoByJ89U_aoDAnIfY&index=90&t=403s1977-2013 Takarazuka all-female revue (Japan):https://genderedjapan.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/takarazuka-revue-does-gone-with-the-wind/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT2UJ6suOlM2003/2015 musical (France, South Korea):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lno8r_UqvKM&list=PLPXncXaHAlDxHw0NFoByJ89U_aoDAnIfY&index=3https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV1JDxSwluM&list=PLPXncXaHAlDxHw0NFoByJ89U_aoDAnIfY&index=42008 musical (UK):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm6l_eSa5Wc2013 RMTC play (Canada):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEV54lzb-FYhttps://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/2012/03/09/gone-with-the-wind-is-linchpin-production-for-royal-manitoba-theatre-centres-2012-13-season2025 musical (Greece):https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3bkyGs5BE/https://www.instagram.com/p/DJYp-BvoAqa/https://www.instagram.com/p/DJE6CyhIE44/?img_index=1

Summary: Scarlett secretly reads Ashley's letters to Melanie. Rhett goes out of his way to charm Atlanta as a dashing blockader, only to immediately ostracize himself when it no longer amuses him. Rhett gifts Scarlett a green bonnet from Paris and encourages her to stop wearing mourning. Belle Watling gives Melanie money for the hospital. Scarlett discovers that Rhett consorts with prostitutes.

Summary: Scarlett arrives in Atlanta with Wade and Prissy. She begins nursing in the hospital, but is still restricted by her widowhood from attending social functions. By chance, Scarlett attends a charity bazaar with Melanie and Aunt Pittypat. Scarlett becomes reacquainted with Rhett Butler at the bazaar and, scandalously, dances with him. Gerald travels to Atlanta to bring her home. Rhett gets Gerald drunk during a game of poker, cleaning him out of all his money. Scarlett blackmails her father into letting her stay.

Summary: Mammy helps Scarlett prepare for the barbecue and instructs her on how a proper lady should behave. Scarlett flirts with every man present at the barbecue in the hopes of attracting Ashley, but to no avail. Rhett Butler infuriates the guests by insisting that the South will be licked in a month. Scarlett confesses her love to Ashley and flies into a rage at his rejection, bringing her face to face with Rhett. Scarlett and Charles become engaged and are married within two weeks. Charles dies in camp and Scarlett becomes a widow and mother in quick succession. Ellen sends a depressed Scarlett to Atlanta with Wade.

Though Margaret Mitchell never penned a sequel to her Pulitzer-winning novel (nor any other novel at all), plenty of her childhood writings have survived and been published in the years following her death. What did the author feel compelled to write about as a young girl and, later, journalist? Do any elements in these stories mimic Gone with the Wind?

Welcome to the first episode of GWTW Readalong, a new series in which I will analyze the book chronologically. Each episode will tackle a few chapters at a time. Feel free to read along with me and form your own takes!In this episode, Scarlett finds out from the Tarletons that Ashley is going to marry Melanie, Scarlett chats with Gerald about Ashley's upcoming nuptials, Gerald buys Dilcey and Prissy from John Wilkes, we learn the history of Ellen and Gerald, the O'Haras have prayer time and Scarlett forms a plan to ensnare Ashley the next day at the barbecue.

On September 9, 1939, Gone with the Wind was first previewed in Riverside, California. Luckily for us, the audience's questionnaires have all been digitally archived for our perusal. This episode discusses the audience's initial reaction to the then-unfinished film, as well as various deleted scenes that have been uncovered over the years.

The age-old question all Gone with the Wind fans must ask themselves: does she get him back, or not? Does the story present any evidence leaning towards one way or the other?

This episode discusses where the Gone with the Wind characters fall on the moral alignment chart! Are they lawful or chaotic, good or evil, or neutral?

Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig is an “authorized” novel by the Margaret Mitchell estate, advertised as a retelling of Gone with the Wind from Rhett’s POV. An interesting premise, to be sure, but is it worth checking out?

Scarlett O’Hara is notorious across fiction for her absolute ruthlessness in getting what she wants, but is she totally heartless? What motivates her to act the way she does?

Rhett Butler was stricken from the family Bible at age twenty and cast off without a penny, only to emerge as a well-traveled and highly successful gambler. How might his turbulent youth have influenced his choices and psychology later in life?(Enjoy the picture of young Clark Gable with some puppies.)

Is Melanie truly naïve to Scarlett’s infatuation with her husband? Is there any evidence to suggest otherwise?

This episode explores different Gone with the Wind theories and headcanons, from Rhett to Melanie to Ella Lorena.

Margaret Mitchell’s abusive ex-husband, known by his nickname “Red”, is often sourced as the inspiration for Rhett Butler. How valid are these comparisons?

Ashley has a poor reputation for playing with Scarlett’s feelings and being mentally unfaithful to his wife. Is this reputation deserved?

In June of 1938, it was announced that Norma Shearer and Clark Gable were to play Scarlett and Rhett. The public had some strong feelings, to say the least.

HI and welcome! This will serve as a brief introduction as to what to expect from this podcast and yours truly.