Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1890.

First edition of this collection of short stories concerning domestic, rural and ordinary life, many of which were previously published in The Atlantic Monthly, Scribner’s Magazine and Harper’s Magazine, amongst others.

A keen observer of regional cultural spheres, Jewett explores the importance of place in this collection, which predominantly expounds upon life in her native New England, but also includes tales set in Ireland and other foreign lands. The majority of Jewett’s writings were influenced by her home town of South Berwick, Maine, which was at the time somewhat of a declining seaport. Evocative and nostalgic in tone, stories here include “A Winter Courtship”, exploring the blooming relationship between a wagon driver and a passenger; “The Luck of the Bogans”, which follows the emigration of a 19th century Irish family to America; and “Fair Day”, which describes the reminiscences of an elderly woman left alone for the day while her son visits the local fair.

Thoughtful and somewhat sentimental, Jewett’s chosen themes on immigration, family and romance are as relevant today as they were at the turn of the 20th century.

Scarce in its first edition format, particularly so in the original publisher’s cloth.

Small 8vo., publisher’s sage green and cream cloth, the latter decorated in green with art deco designs and titles stamped to upper board; lettered and decorated in gilt along backstrip, with winged device and publisher’s name to foot; pp. [xi], 2-279, [iii]; boards a little dirtied, split along backstrip with cloth sometime re-glued and reinforced; spine still a little fragile at the gutter; internally, save for mild offsetting to the endpapers; a fresh and bright copy; very good.