JEWETT, Sarah O.
First edition, first state of Jewett's first book, with "was" at the end of the 16th line on p. 65, later changed to "so." The author, from South Berwick, Maine, first began writing these tales set in the imaginary "Deephaven" for the Atlantic Monthly in 1868 when she was only 19 years old. The book was an immediate success, coming out at a time when the enthusiasm for regional studies of America was its height. Her stories emphasized local colour, not plot, and she possessed a keen descriptive gift that William Dean Howells called "an uncommon feeling for talk I hear your people." Feminist critics have championed Jewett's writing for its rich account of women's lives and voices.
