The Short Fiction of Sarah Orne Jewett and Mary Wilkins Freeman

Excellent writing by 2 women who lived in New England over 200 years ago. Both writers wrote about strong women with agency and they wrote mostly from a female perspective. The characters were mostly psychologically astute, knowing much about themselves and people in their community. Most of these stories and short novellas portrayed some unfortunate circumstances, but ended pleasantly.

Both authors are very good writers and well worth reading, especially if you want to expand your knowledge of 19th century women authors in America. I was really fascinated by Freeman's writing style and her willingness and ability to allow her vulgar and uncivilized characters to be fully human. Jewett is more stately, even elegiac, in her descriptions of the sometimes sad remnants of vanishing cultures. I highly recommend these stories.