Around the time of World War I, Dorothy Wordsworth had only recently started to receive adequate credit or acclaim for her work, and often she was remembered mainly as a helpmate to her famous brother. This is evident in Happy Women by Myrtle Reed, which provides a brief biography of Dorothy for a predominantly female audience. The book focuses on the positive and feminine natures of Dorothy and other great women. There are many references to Dorothy’s housekeeping and close relationship with William, while the extent of her trail-walking and intellect are understated.
