Jessie Graham

"Jessie Graham" by Mary Jane Holmes is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative introduces us to the lives of the Marshall family, particularly focusing on young Walter Marshall, as they navigate personal trials entwined with themes of love, family loyalty, and societal expectations. At the heart of the story is Jessie Graham, the daughter of a wealthy man, who is taken in by the Marshalls after her mother’s death, sparking a series of interactions that reveal both tension and affection among the characters. The opening of the book establishes the setting within a rural farmhouse where Old Deacon Marshall reflects on his past while caring for his grandson, Walter. We see the arrival of correspondence from Jessie's father, Richard Graham, indicating his desire to place Jessie with her new guardians. As family dynamics unfold, Walter grapples with feelings of jealousy and resentment stemming from his complicated family history and the implications of Jessie's wealth and status. The introduction not only piques curiosity about Walter and Jessie’s evolving relationship but also hints at deeper themes involving familial bonds, societal judgments, and the emotional weight of personal history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Jane Holmes was an American author who published 39 novels, as well as short stories. Her first novel sold 250,000 copies; and she had total sales of 2 million books in her lifetime, second only to Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her books included: "Tempest and Sunshine" (1854), "English Orphans" (1855), "Homestead on the Hillside" (1855), "Lena Rivers" (1856), "Meadow Brook" (1857), "Dora Deane" (1858), "Cousin Maude" (1860), "Marian Gray" 186^, "Hugh Worthington" (1864), "Cameron Vide" (1867). "Rose Mather" (1868), "Ethelyn’s Mistake" (1869), "Edna Browning" (1872), "Mildred" (1877), "Forest House" (1879), "Daisy Thornton," "Queenie Hetherton" (1883), "Christmas Stories" (1884), "Bessie's Fortune" (1885). "Gretchen" (1887), "Marguerite" (1891).