"Jessamine: A Novel" by Marion Harland intricately weaves together themes of family, romance, and societal dynamics against the backdrop of a Southern plantation during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Set amidst the crumbling aristocracy of the South, the novel delves into the complex interplay of tradition, women's roles, and the legacy of slavery. Against this turbulent backdrop, a captivating love triangle unfolds, intertwining themes of betrayal and redemption. As the characters navigate the shifting landscapes of society and personal relationships, their resilience is tested, revealing the enduring strength of the human spirit. Harland's narrative evokes the atmospheric elements of Southern Gothic literature, with its haunting portrayal of the plantation's decadence and decay mirroring the societal upheaval of the era. Through vivid prose and richly drawn characters, "Jessamine" explores the depths of human emotion and the complexities of morality in a time of profound social change. It is a poignant tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope amidst the shadows of the past.
Marion Harland, also known by her pen name, was an American novelist who was prolific and bestselling in both fiction and nonfiction. Born in Amelia County, Virginia, she began writing essays at the age of 14 under numerous pen names until 1853, when she settled on Marion Harland. Her debut novel, Alone, was published in 1854 and became a "emphatic success" with a second printing the following year. She was a prolific writer of best-selling women's novels, known as "plantation fiction" at the time, as well as countless serial works, short stories, and magazine essays for fifteen years. Terhune married Presbyterian preacher Edward Payson Terhune in 1856, and they moved to Newark, New Jersey, where she spent the rest of her adult life. They had six children together; three of them died as babies. In the 1870s, shortly after the birth of her last son, Albert Payson, she released Common Sense in the Household: A Manual of Practical Housewifery, a cookbook and household guide for housewives that became a tremendous bestseller, selling more than one million copies over multiple editions.
