The Secret of a Happy Home (1896)

"The Secret of a Happy Home" by Marion Harland is a guidebook on domestic happiness and family dynamics written in the late 19th century. The work delves into principles that create joy within the household, emphasizing the roles of women in home-making and family life. It discusses various topics, including marriage, the importance of order and kindness, and the contributions women make toward nurturing a happy home environment. The opening of this volume sets the stage for a candid exploration of domestic life, beginning with the author's conviction that the themes of home and happiness are intertwined and vital for both men and women. Harland introduces the concept of home as something more than just a physical space, asserting that it is the emotional warmth and love brought by its female inhabitants that truly defines it. She outlines her intent to engage in a series of discussions regarding the subtleties of maintaining a serene and loving home, establishing a conversational tone that invites readers to consider their own family lives and the role they play in promoting happiness within them. As the narrative unfolds, Harland moves beyond mere housekeeping tips to discuss the deeper emotional and social dynamics at play in sustaining a happy household. (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.