"The Maid of Maiden Lane" is a novel written by Amelia E. Barr. The story is set in the late 18th century in New York City and follows the life of Dolores Penhallow, a young woman of Spanish descent who was orphaned at a young age and raised by her stern, wealthy uncle, Don Mariano. Despite her privileged upbringing, Dolores longs for love and companionship, which she finds in the form of Jacky Van Dam, a dashing young sailor whom she meets by chance. But, she has to fulfill her duties towards her family as well! How will she confess her love to him? Whom Dolores will choose for her life? Will they both be together? The novel offers a vivid portrayal of life in colonial America, with its social hierarchies, political unrest, and cultural clashes. At its heart, however, "The Maid of Maiden Lane" is a timeless tale of love and sacrifice, as Dolores must choose between her heart's desire and her duty to her family and country.
Amelia E. Barr was a British author and teacher. She was born on March 29, 1831, and died on March 10, 1919. Many of her stories' plots happen in Scotland and England. The scenes come from her memories of her life as a young girl. Her books include Jan Vedder's Wife, A Border Shepherdess, Feet of Clay, Friend Olivia, The Bow of Orange Ribbon, Remember the Alamo, She Loved a Sailor, A Daughter of Fife, The Squire of Sandal Side, Paul and Christina, Master of His Fate, The Household of McNeil, The Last of the Macallisters, and Between Two Loves. A Sister to Esau, A Rose with a Hundred Leaves, A Singer from the Sea, The Beads of Tasmer, The Hallam Succession, The Lone House, Christopher, and Other Stories, and The Lost Silver of Briffault. Robert Barr, a wealthy wool merchant in the area, married her on July 11, 1850. In September 1853, the couple moved to the United States. They arrived in New York City. Barr tutored at home and opened a school for girls in Chicago, Illinois. She didn't stay involved for long, though, because her husband's business plans fell through and they moved to Austin, Texas.
