A New-England Tale: Or, Sketches of New England Character and Manners

First published in 1820 and popular both here in the states and abroad, this novel is a fine, early example of the moral women's novels of 19th century New England. The book has all the trappings of other popular 19th century novels (orphans, mysterious strangers, a madwoman..etc) but is set in small town Massachusetts (known to be based on the author's hometown of Stockbridge which has been more recently made notable by Norman Rockwell and as home of Guthrie's 'Alice's Restaurant'). It is a charming story of a good orphan named Jane who is sent to live with her cruel aunt and spoiled cousins. There she will spend her adolescence negotiating many a situation (no spoilers!) that will 'test' her. The Christian moralizing is thicker than show more clotted cream in the book but if one can get through it, it's an engaging tale (rather tame by current standards, of course, and sadly without the wit of Austen). There is a bit of skewering of the upper classes here (to which Ms. Sedgwick belonged) and more than a small attempt to expose the hypocrisy in their religious practice. There is also a hint of the emerging Transcendentalism in New England. I'm afraid I cannot rate my reading of this, because I feel it is not best judged by today's standards. show less

Don't mind me. Just searching for a female writer who can top The Minister's Wooing... or at least inspire some sort of depth of thought. This, while admirable for its time, was more reminiscent of Mary Jane Holmes.


P. S. What was with this whole "Marry the man who is 20 years older, has a daughter, and paid for your education" thing that was going around in the 1800s?