Dora Deane; Or, The East India Uncle

"Dora Deane; Or, The East India Uncle" by Mary Jane Holmes is a novel likely written in the mid-19th century. The story revolves around a young girl named Dora who finds herself facing the tragedy of her mother's death and the uncertainty of her future as an orphan. As Dora navigates her grief and the harsh realities of her new life, themes of familial relationships, social class, and resilience begin to unfold. The opening of the novel introduces us to a bleak December night, where twelve-year-old Dora is caring for her dying mother in a small, cold room. Hope and despair collide as Dora is left alone in the world, praying for her own death rather than facing the loneliness ahead. The scene is heart-wrenching, painted in somber tones of loss and longing. After her mother's passing, a series of events leads to Dora being taken in by her relatives, the Deanes, whose interests may not align with her own needs. This opening segment establishes the emotional depth of Dora's character and sets up the challenges she will face as she learns to navigate a world that often seems indifferent to her plight. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Jane Holmes was an American author who published 39 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. Her books included: "Tempest and Sunshine" (1854), "English Orphans" (1855), "Homestead on the Hillside" (1855), "Lena Rivers" (1856), "Meadow Brook" (1857), "Dora Deane" (1858), "Cousin Maude" (1860), "Marian Gray" 186^, "Hugh Worthington" (1864), "Cameron Vide" (1867). "Rose Mather" (1868), "Ethelyn’s Mistake" (1869), "Edna Browning" (1872), "Mildred" (1877), "Forest House" (1879), "Daisy Thornton," "Queenie Hetherton" (1883), "Christmas Stories" (1884), "Bessie's Fortune" (1885). "Gretchen" (1887), "Marguerite" (1891).