Samantha among the Brethren — Volume 4

"Samantha among the Brethren — Volume 4" by Marietta Holley is a humorous novel written during the late 19th century (Victorian era). The book is a continuation of the adventures of Samantha, a woman who offers her witty observations on society, religion, and human nature. The narrative targets themes of religious fervor and societal conventions, employing satire to explore the behaviors and beliefs of its characters. In this volume, Samantha navigates various interactions with members of her community as they prepare for what they believe is the imminent end of the world. The storyline introduces characters such as Trueman's wife and Joe Charnick, highlighting their eccentric beliefs and community dynamics. As excitement builds toward the predicted apocalypse, Samantha juxtaposes her practical approach to life with the more dramatic responses of those around her. Through humorous anecdotes and light-hearted commentary, Holley portrays the absurdity of blind faith and the complexities of human relationships, culminating in a comical climax where the anticipated doomsday fails to occur, leaving the characters to reconcile their expectations with reality. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Marietta Holley, was an American humorist who used satire to comment on U.S. society and politics. Holley enjoyed a prolific writing career and was a bestselling author in the late 19th century, though she was largely forgotten by the time of her death. Her writing was frequently compared to that of Mark Twain and Edgar Nye. Along with Frances Miriam Whitcher and Ann S. Stephens, Holley is regarded as one of America's most significant early female humorists. Her work appealed to all classes of society. Her readers were scattered over the entire world, and included men and women of every station and grade. Her books were widely read in Europe.