At Last: A Novel

"At Last: A Novel" by Marion Harland is a fiction piece set in the late 19th century, delving into themes of love, societal expectations, and familial duties against a backdrop of Southern gentry. The story centers around Mrs. Rachel Sutton, a well-meaning matchmaker who orchestrates romantic engagements among the eligible young people within her social circle. The narrative unfolds through her efforts to secure successful unions for her niece, Mabel Aylett, and surrounding characters, as well as her reflections on her own past and beliefs regarding marriage. The opening of the novel introduces Mrs. Sutton as a dedicated matchmaker, proud of her successes and firmly attached to her views on relationships. As the narrative progresses, we see her facilitating romantic encounters while navigating various dynamics among the characters, including her niece Mabel's budding romance with Frederic Chilton, and the contrasting attitudes of other characters like Rosa Tazewell, a flirtatious young woman expressing disdain for traditional roles. This section sets a lively pace filled with humor and societal commentary, hinting at conflicts and challenges that will arise as relationships evolve amidst the pressures of propriety and personal desires. (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.