Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1911.

First edition. Inscribed in 1911 to Alice Forbes Cary by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s daughter Edith Emerson Forbes, who was married to William Hathaway Forbes, son of railroad magnate and abolitionist John Murray Forbes, and who became the first President of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company. Later ownership inscription in a different pen by Edward W. Forbes who was director of the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. Alice died in 1917.

This collection of Jewett’s letters, published posthumously and edited by her partner Annie Fields, offers a window into the author’s life and relationships, her interior discourse, and her loving relationships with, mostly, women; friends and lovers. Published by Fields in no discernible order, and often without dates, the collection nonetheless provides a unique insight into the personal reminisces of one of the most celebrated writers of her time, and includes information regarding her travels, her creative process, and her thoughts on the changing world around her.

Many of Jewett’s original letters are now held at the University of New England.

8vo., publisher’s green cloth; decorative ruled border with cornerpieces to upper board; duplicated in blind to lower; titles in blind to spine; upper edge gilt; pp. [xi], 4-253, [ix]; with frontis photogravure portrait behind mounted tissue-guard; boards scuffed at edges with a couple of small white marks; two contemporary/near-contemporary ownership inscriptions to front free endpaper; evidence of bookplate removal to the rear paste-down, else a very good copy.