Mary Jane Holmes

Marian Grey, Or, The Heiress of Redstone Hall

In "Bessie's Fortune," Mary Jane Holmes intertwines themes of love, ambition, and social class against the backdrop of 19th-century America. Through the lens of the titular character, Bessie, Holmes crafts a narrative that explores the tension between societal expectations and personal desires. The novel is characterized by its vivid characterizations and rich descriptions, reflecting the sentimental literary style of the time while also offering critical insights into the role of women in a rapidly modernizing society. Holmes skillfully navigates the emotional landscape of her characters, inviting readers to discover the complexities of hope and fortune amidst both affluence and adversity. Mary Jane Holmes, a prominent author of the 19th century, was known for her keen observations of social dynamics, informed by her own experiences and the challenges faced by women of her era. Growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, Holmes's early life was steeped in the very struggles she encapsulated in her novels. Her deep empathy for her characters and commitment to portraying their inner conflicts are reflective of the societal transitions she witnessed, further enhancing the authenticity of Bessie's journey. "Bessie's Fortune" merits reading for those who appreciate character-driven narratives that delve into the intricacies of human motivations and societal pressures. Holmes's exploration of resilience and the quest for self-identity amidst external constraints resonates with contemporary readers, making it an essential addition to any literary collection.

A Novel

Bessie's Fortune

Or, Life in Kentucky

Tempest and Sunshine

Rose Mather

The Homestead on the Hillside, and Other Tales

"West Lawn, and The rector of St. Mark's" by Mary Jane Holmes. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

West Lawn, and The rector of St. Mark's

Tempest and Sunshine; Or, Life in Kentucky

in large print

Darkness and Daylight; A Novel

This novel, published in the 1850's, was a Kindle freebie. It is the story of Lena Rivers, and orphan growing up in the mountains of New England with her grandparents. Her mother died when she was a baby, and she never knew her father because he left her mother before she was born. When her grandfather dies, she and her mother go to live with her uncle in Kentucky. Her uncle is hen pecked by his wealthy wife, who is not happy about having to take in "poor relations," and her 3 children are spoiled. Lena's grandmother would be considered a "redneck" today, she even chewed tobacco! I loved her character too, she added many moments of hilarity to the story. The story is basically one of star crossed lovers, 3 couples who's lives are not working out because of the interference of her Lena's aunt, who believes her children should marry for for wealth and social position, not love. And there is also a story behind the secret of Lena's parentage. I enjoyed this story; it's not great literature, but it was fun read. The characters tended to be a little dramatic at times, especially Lena with all her fainting spells, but I think that style of writing was probably popular in novels of this kind in that day. Some of language is not politically correct either, especially in regards to the slaves, but I think that is because of the time it was written in; back then, there was no such thing as being "P.C." I looked up that author, Mary Jane Holmes, on Wikipedia; she was a quite prolific and best selling author of 39 novels during the mid to late 1800's, almost as popular as Harriet Beecher Stowe. I have a few of her other novels on my Kindle, and look forward to reading those too. Mary Jane Holmes (April 5, 1825 - October 6, 1907) was a bestselling and prolific American author who published 39 popular novels, as well as short stories. Her first novel sold 250,000 copies; and she had total sales of 2 million books in her lifetime, second only to Harriet Beecher Stowe. Portraying domestic life in small-town and rural settings, she examined gender relationships, as well as those of class and race. She also dealt with slavery and the American Civil War with a strong sense of moral justice. Since the late 20th century she has received fresh recognition and reappraisal, although her popular work was excluded from most 19th-century literary histories. On August 9, 1849 Hawes married Daniel Holmes, a graduate of Yale College from New York. They moved for a time to Versailles, Kentucky in the Bluegrass Region, where they both taught for a few years. These were formative years, as Holmes used the small-town, rural setting and people she knew as inspiration for her first novel and others set in the antebellum South.In 1852 the Holmes family returned to New York and settled in Brockport, a short distance west of Rochester, where Daniel read law and was ultimately admitted to the bar. He went into practice and also served in local politics. They had no children. Holmes' supportive marriage was one she used as a model for several portrayed in her novels.

Lena Rivers (1856), by Mary J. Holmes Novel (World Classic)

Bad Hugh, Or, The Diamond in the Rough

Rosa Lee, Or, Life in Georgia

'Lena Rivers

George Eliot

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

O. Henry

Eleanor H. Porter

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Sarah Orne Jewett

Louisa May Alcott

Andrew Lang

Susan Coolidge

Edward Everett Hale

Alfred Gatty

Eugene Field

Alfred Henry Lewis

Nora Perry

Ida Hamilton Munsell

Come along on this beautiful adventure called life and celebrate its various hues and colors. In this meticulously prepared collection, we have brought to you the most beloved Thanksgiving classics: Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen (O. Henry) The Purple Dress (O. Henry) Three Thanksgivings (Charlotte Perkins Gilman) An English Dinner of Thanksgiving (George Eliot) An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving (Louisa May Alcott) Aunt Susanna's Thanksgiving Dinner (Lucy Maud Montgomery) The Genesis of the Doughnut Club (Lucy Maud Montgomery) Ezra's Thanksgivin' Out West (Eugene Field) Helen's Thanksgiving (Susan Coolidge) John Inglefield's Thanksgiving (Nathaniel Hawthorne) Thanksgiving at the Polls (Edward Everett Hale) Millionaire Mike's Thanksgiving (Eleanor H. Porter) The Thanksgiving of the Wazir (Andrew Lang) The Master of the Harvest (Mrs. Alfred Gatty) A Wolfville Thanksgiving (Alfred Henry Lewis) How We Kept Thanksgiving at Oldtown (Harriet Beecher Stowe) The Thanksgiving Party and its Consequences (Mary Jane Holmes) The Night before Thanksgiving (Sarah Orne Jewett) Miss Heck's Thanksgiving Party (Ida Hamilton Munsell)

Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen, How We Kept Thanksgiving at Oldtown, The Master of the Harvest, Three Thanksgivings, Ezra's Thanksgivin' Out West, A Wolfville Thanksgiving...

Mary Jane Holmes

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