The Tory Lover (ePub)

Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909) was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for her local color works set in or around South Berwick, Maine, her native town that would serve as the fictionalized Deephaven and Dunnet Landing in her writing. Born into a well-established New England family, Jewett was encouraged by her father to pursue literature, and she began to write from an early age. Her literary talent emerged distinctly with the publication of 'Deephaven' in 1877, and further flourished in works such as 'A Country Doctor' and 'A White Heron.' Jewett's style evokes a unique sense of place and the poignancy of rural life, heavily influenced by her relationships and her observation of the quickly changing world around her. One of her later novels, 'The Tory Lover' (1901), harmonizes her narrative craftsmanship with a historical theme, diverging somewhat from the pastoral settings more typical in her work. As a regionalist writer, Jewett's work is characterized by its gentle realism and emphasis on the female experience. Her contributions to American literature have been recognized for capturing the transition from the staunch, colonial New England traditions to a more modern perspective, with her rich characterizations providing a delicate preservation of the idiosyncrasies of the era's provincial life. Her legacy endures in the Sarah Orne Jewett House in South Berwick, now a museum, which is emblematic of her impact on the literary tapestry of her time.