Marion Harland's Autobiography: The Story of a Long Life

"Marion Harland's Autobiography: The Story of a Long Life" by Marion Harland is a personal memoir written in the early 20th century. This work captures the intricate tapestry of the author’s life, weaving together her experiences that span the Old South and the reformation through the Civil War. It reflects on her upbringing, family lineage, personal relationships, and the societal changes she witnessed over the decades. At the start of the autobiography, Harland introduces herself and her family background, detailing her ancestors and the historical context of her family's roots in America. She recalls her father's beginnings and her mother's genteel lineage while providing vivid anecdotes, such as her father's Revolutionary War service. The opening chapters create a foundation of warmth, nostalgia, and nostalgia for a bygone era, as Harland's storytelling reveals the depth of her connections with familial and historical legacies, setting a personal tone for the narrative that will unfold. (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.