Jessamine: A Novel

"Jessamine: A Novel" by Marion Harland is a work of fiction written in the late 19th century. The story introduces a young girl named Jessie, who is captivated by a church ceremony and the orator, Mr. Fordham, revealing her idealistic nature and romantic yearnings. As the narrative unfolds, we encounter her interactions with various characters, including Mr. Wyllys, who enters her life amidst a celebration, setting the stage for themes of love, aspiration, and the intricacies of social dynamics. The opening of "Jessamine" presents Jessie, who is portrayed as vibrant yet physically fragile, lying in her oriel-window, lost in admiration for the powerful speaker at the church. Her affection for Mr. Fordham quickly becomes apparent, as does her sense of pride in her heritage and community's history. Meanwhile, her interaction with Mr. Wyllys reveals her desire for connection and acceptance amidst her burgeoning emotions and the consequences of her physical limitations from an injury. This portion of the novel effectively establishes the characters' relationships and hints at the potential for romantic developments as the story progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Virginia Terhune, also known by her penname Marion Harland, was an American author who was prolific and bestselling in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Born in Amelia County, Virginia, she began her career writing articles at the age of 14, using various pennames until 1853, when she settled on Marion Harland. Her first novel Alone was published in 1854 and became an "emphatic success" following its second printing the next year. For fifteen years she was a prolific writer of best-selling women's novels, classified then as "plantation fiction", as well as writing numerous serial works, short stories, and essays for magazines.