Forrest House : $b A novel

"Forrest House: A Novel" by Mary Jane Holmes is a fictional work written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around J. Everard Forrest, a young man caught between his relationships with two women: Josephine Fleming, a beautiful yet seemingly superficial girl, and Rosamond Hastings, a kind and selfless figure from his past. As Everard navigates a secret marriage and the challenges it brings, the novel explores themes of love, social class, and personal integrity. The opening of "Forrest House" introduces us to J. Everard Forrest as he receives two letters, one summoning him to participate in a play and another urging him to return home to a sick mother. The narrative follows Everard’s internal conflict as he contemplates attending the play in Holburton while feeling obligated to care for his ailing mother. It sets the stage for relationships that complicate his life, particularly with Josephine, who is vibrant yet flirtatious, and Rosamond, who epitomizes devotion. Maximal character interactions and decisions are begun, hinting at the drama to unfold as Everard’s choices have far-reaching consequences for all involved. (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).