Mildred : $b A novel

"Mildred: A Novel" by Mary Jane Holmes is a work of fiction written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in a time of dramatic societal change, focusing on themes of family, love, and the complexity of human relationships. The narrative centers around the character of Mildred, a young girl abandoned as a baby, who faces a tumultuous upbringing and the search for her true identity and belonging. The opening of the novel introduces readers to a stormy September evening, setting a somber tone reflecting the turmoil in the life of Judge Howell, who receives a letter proposing the adoption of a baby girl. The Judge's irritation at the unexpectedly thrust upon him situation leads to a tense night where instead of following through with plans to reject the child, a baby is mysteriously left at his doorstep. The Judge is torn between his harshness and the warmth he recalls from his past, especially regarding his deceased wife and daughter. Mildred is soon discovered as this unwanted infant, leading to discussions of her fate and stirring the Judge’s long-buried emotions regarding family ties. This opening lays the groundwork for a rich exploration of identity, social class, and the human capacity for connection, suggesting profound developments in Mildred's journey and the Judge's transformation. (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).