Boston and New York: Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1879.

First edition. Jewett’s second published short story collection. Bookplate from the Collection of First Editions of Distinguished American Women, Pine Manor Junior College, Wellesley Massachusetts to the front free endpaper. Originally published in The Atlantic Monthly in seven instalments – one short story in each volume – the previous year.

Each story in Jewett’s collection tells of a lonely figure, and the tales are connected with an overarching theme of finding home. In “Lady Ferry”, for example, the protagonist begins to feel more comfortable at her cousin’s house after just one day than a lifetime in her own home. “I began to feel already the pleasure of being in a real home”, she writes. In others, characters travel thousands of miles to learn what home truly is. 

The collection was widely praised, with one reviewer in Literary World writing “She is not only one of the sweetest and most charming of writers, but her pages have [had] all along suggestions helpful towards a kindlier and higher way of living.”

Small 4to., blue cloth lettered and ruled in black, with corner pieces (duplicated in blind to lower board); gilt motif showing a bundle of rushes to the upper board; all edges stained red, with matching blue coated endpapers; pp. [viii], 7-269, [iii]; with head and tailpieces, as well as engraved initials throughout; boards rubbed at edges, corners, and along spine; light tearing to the gutter of the first few pages resulting in a little loss of title border; a couple of light spots and corner creases to text block; very good.