The Bride of the Mistletoe (ePub)

James Lane Allen (1849-1925) was a notable American novelist and short story writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Kentucky, he derived much inspiration from his homeland, often embedding the rich tapestry of the Bluegrass State into his literary works. A representative of American literary regionalism, Allen sought to faithfully capture the dialect, customs, and setting of Kentucky in his works. He is perhaps best known for his 1903 novel 'The Reign of Law: A Tale of the Kentucky Hemp Fields', which solidifies his standing as a key figure in American realism and regionalist literature.

Allen's precise, descriptive writing style is often underscored by pastoral romanticism, showcasing an idealized rural Kentucky. His interest in the interplay between environment, character, and narrative is evident in his considered prose, which has garnered both critical and popular acclaim in his time. His novel 'The Bride of the Mistletoe', published in 1909, embodies his characteristic concern with themes of nature, ethos, and the human condition. The novel, while not as widely known as some of his other works like 'A Kentucky Cardinal', remains a powerful example of his lyrical and evocative storytelling.

Though interest in Allen's work has waned somewhat since his death, his contributions to the American canon, especially Southern literature, continue to be recognized by scholars and literary enthusiasts alike, preserving his legacy as a craftsman of the written word and a documentarian of Kentucky life at the turn of the century.