Rose Mather: A Tale of The War

by Mary Jane Holmes

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

408 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1868

About the author

Mary Jane Holmes (a.k.a. Mary J. Holmes) was a bestselling and prolific American author who wrote 39 popular novels, as well as short stories. Her first novel sold 250,000 copies; and she had total sales of 2 million books in her lifetime, second only to Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Mary Jane Holmes, nee Hawes (1825-1907) was an American author who wrote many popular novels. Holmes was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts. At age 13 she taught in a school. She married Daniel Holmes and they settled in Versailles, Kentucky. In 1854 she wrote her first novel, Tempest and Sunshine. The theme for most of her novels was domestic life. Other works include: The English Orphans; or, A Home in the New World (1855), 'Lena Rivers (1856), Homestead on the Hillside (1856), Meadow Brook (1857), Dora Deane; or, The East India Uncle (1859), Cousin Maude (1860), Rosamond Maude (1860), Darkness and Daylight (1864), Hugh Worthington (1865), Family Pride; or, Purified by Suffering (1867), Ethelyn's Mistake (1869), Edna Browning; or, The Leighton Homestead (1872), West Lawn (1874), Edith Lyle's Secret (1876), Forrest House (1879), Christmas Stories (1885), Bessie's Fortune (1885), Tracy Park (1886), Gretchen (1887), Paul Ralston (1897), The Cromptons (1899) and Bad Hugh (1900).

Portraying domestic life in small town and rural settings, she examined gender relationships, as well as those of class and race. She also dealt with slavery and the American Civil War, with a strong sense of moral justice. Her popular work was excluded from most 19th-century literary histories, but she has received recognition and reappraisal since the late 20th century.

Reviews

[MrsWhiteLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one moves slow at the beginning, so it took me longer to get through and I first wondered if I’d even like it. But, the characters grew so much and the story got so good that I ended up loving it. I also learned so much about the civil war in the process. It’s so different to learn from someone who lived it and is using it for fiction, than a plain history book.

[Malena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ✨

I would have liked this book more if it was more tragic for the main characters.

I hated the pairing of Jimmie and Anne. I have no idea what Anne saw in him since he was immature the whole book. George was so much better than him and it makes me a little mad because I feel like the author just killed George for the sake of having a woman reunites with her first love situation. I wish she'd had a son with George before he died so Jimmie would have to look at this stepson's face and remembers his wife's husband for the rest of his life. He's so immature about the fact she was married before. What is going to do when Anne inevitably visits George's grave on the anniversary of his death and birthday?