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Josselyn's Wife
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2007
About the author
Kathleen Thompson Norris
225 books63 followersEducated at the University of California, Kathleen married Charles Gilman Norris, brother of the late Benjamin Franklin Norris, Junior, in 1909. She was a prolific author, producing over 80 novels in addition to numerous short stories and articles. Norris was a regular contributor to leading magazines such as Atlantic and Ladies' Home Journal. Her first novel, Lost Sunrise, appeared in 1909 and was immediately popular. By the end of her career her books had sold over ten million copies and made her the highest paid female author of her day.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 7, 2026
This was my first time reading Kathleen Thompson Norris and once I started "Josselyn's Wife" it was a definite page turner. I was not sure which Josselyn's wife the title of the book could mean but I decided on Gibb's wife. I was shocked at the true events regarding the murder. I was quite disturbed by Gibb's behavior to his young step mother. I was glad that the immorality was not desired. Melodramatic. I love Ellen and Joe.
Story in short- Ellen Latimer lives a modest life and finds herself attracted to a wealthy man's playboy son.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
-Ellen Latimer- 21 years old, she was 12 when her father died, their mother died before their father, she is 23 when she meets Gibbs again.
-Joe Latimer-18 year old brother, he was 8 when his father died.
-Aunt Elsie- Ellen and Joe's aunt
-Ellis Thorpe- 19 year old-still in High School takes the same train as Ellen, they are friendly, this character disappeared in the first chapter as quick as he appeared.
-Mrs. Baldwin- cook for Aunt Elsie.
-Mrs. E. Sewall Rose- Ellen's mother’s friend, who had remarried, she is kind in her way to Ellen.
-Lucia Rose-daughter of the above
-Arthur Rose-son of the above
-Mr. Edward Sewell Rose- second husband
-Mr. Tom Josselyn-65 years old, remarried recently to a much younger wife which upsets his thirty something year old son.
-Mrs. Josselyn- (Lillian Keeler) 28 years old, married for status and money.
-Gibbs Josselyn-does not approve of his father’s new wife.
🔶 Many of the characters in chapter one are basically irrelevant to the story except the weekend at the Roses brings Ellen in contact with the young people who basically ignore the kind girl but she gains in her understanding of life. She meets Gibbs Josselyn when he comes to visit the Roses, not knowing his father and new wife
are visiting and his dislike for this marriage which caused his relationship with his father. Gibbs has left his father's architect firm and is very angry about it. Gibbs is supposed to drive Ellen to the train station but they miss her train and he drives her back to New York. They are friendly and he is impressed how genuine she is, they are in a car accident which seems not to have done any harm, yet Ellen finds herself fighting her painful injury for many months until Gibbs with his friend George hear about her injury from a helpful Joe Latimer. He tells them about his sister that was in a car accident, Gibbs realized that this was his Ellen and watches her at the dance later. They meet and it was clear from there on that they loved each other and Ellen had never forgotten him since she first saw him. They move to Paris so Gibbs and Ellen could paint, whereas Gibbs became a successful artist, and their comfortable simple life with their baby boy, Tom was pure happiness. The sadness of the loss of their baby girl which they never forget but continued to live. They decide to go back to New York and visit family which included his father and step mother. His father wanted the young Tommy and Ellen and Gibbs to stay with them. Lillian whose beauty grew started to attract Gibbs which seems to be an infatuation and kiss. Ellen notices the difference in her husband and she sees that she lost his love though her love is very strong. Tom Josselyn becomes aware of this and he ends up fighting with his son the night before his death. Gibbs wants to leave his father's house and sees Lillian with another man, he was beginning prior to this. Meanwhile Joe who loves wealthy George's daughter but he is not interested in the money. Joe ends up sleeping with Lizzie, though not getting her pregnant, Lizzie who loves Joe but knows he loves another. When Ellen hears about Joe and Lizzie, and knowing about her attempted suicide. Joe sees he must do the right thing and will marry Lizzie. Gibbs has gone out for the night and comes back around 2 a.m. when Ellen noticed him. Gibbs' behavior is off and when the murder of his father. A trail and guilty verdict for Gibbs but he tells Ellen that he did not murder his father and Ellen's relief and the misunderstandings after that night. Ellen stood by Gibbs and after the night of the murder, they sent Tommy away with married Joe and Lizzie. Gibbs' health takes a toll on him for the months in prison. George tried to help his friend, Ellen looked to find the real murderer. When Tommy comes back home, he tells her about grandpa and playing with the gun which Tom thought was empty not knowing that Lizzie put one bullet in it. Tommy shots his grandfather not knowing what happened, putting the gun in the garage can, waiting to talk to Lizzie about what happened but fell asleep. The prosecutor finds out from innocent Tommy which brings Gibbs out of prison but a changed man but happy with his wife and son in California, where they live a simple life. Joe and Lizzie visit them with baby Ellen. Joe tells of his love for his wife and his past love was not a real love. Gibbs is dying of a lung infection that was made worse during his ordeal. He tells Joe to look after Ellen and encourage her to marry George who thinks Ellen is the best female ever and none stand close to her. Joe tells of Lillian life of remarriage to someone younger who she bears his mother, who controls the money. She had to give up her inheritance when she remarried but what got her was that her husband willed the majority to Ellen who he trusted more than anyone. Gibbs dies in Ellen's arms. Gibbs saw the error of his ways too late, his life before Ellen and his attention to Lillian which he said he never loved anyone but Ellen.
Story in short- Ellen Latimer lives a modest life and finds herself attracted to a wealthy man's playboy son.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
-Ellen Latimer- 21 years old, she was 12 when her father died, their mother died before their father, she is 23 when she meets Gibbs again.
-Joe Latimer-18 year old brother, he was 8 when his father died.
-Aunt Elsie- Ellen and Joe's aunt
-Ellis Thorpe- 19 year old-still in High School takes the same train as Ellen, they are friendly, this character disappeared in the first chapter as quick as he appeared.
-Mrs. Baldwin- cook for Aunt Elsie.
-Mrs. E. Sewall Rose- Ellen's mother’s friend, who had remarried, she is kind in her way to Ellen.
-Lucia Rose-daughter of the above
-Arthur Rose-son of the above
-Mr. Edward Sewell Rose- second husband
-Mr. Tom Josselyn-65 years old, remarried recently to a much younger wife which upsets his thirty something year old son.
-Mrs. Josselyn- (Lillian Keeler) 28 years old, married for status and money.
-Gibbs Josselyn-does not approve of his father’s new wife.
🔶 Many of the characters in chapter one are basically irrelevant to the story except the weekend at the Roses brings Ellen in contact with the young people who basically ignore the kind girl but she gains in her understanding of life. She meets Gibbs Josselyn when he comes to visit the Roses, not knowing his father and new wife
are visiting and his dislike for this marriage which caused his relationship with his father. Gibbs has left his father's architect firm and is very angry about it. Gibbs is supposed to drive Ellen to the train station but they miss her train and he drives her back to New York. They are friendly and he is impressed how genuine she is, they are in a car accident which seems not to have done any harm, yet Ellen finds herself fighting her painful injury for many months until Gibbs with his friend George hear about her injury from a helpful Joe Latimer. He tells them about his sister that was in a car accident, Gibbs realized that this was his Ellen and watches her at the dance later. They meet and it was clear from there on that they loved each other and Ellen had never forgotten him since she first saw him. They move to Paris so Gibbs and Ellen could paint, whereas Gibbs became a successful artist, and their comfortable simple life with their baby boy, Tom was pure happiness. The sadness of the loss of their baby girl which they never forget but continued to live. They decide to go back to New York and visit family which included his father and step mother. His father wanted the young Tommy and Ellen and Gibbs to stay with them. Lillian whose beauty grew started to attract Gibbs which seems to be an infatuation and kiss. Ellen notices the difference in her husband and she sees that she lost his love though her love is very strong. Tom Josselyn becomes aware of this and he ends up fighting with his son the night before his death. Gibbs wants to leave his father's house and sees Lillian with another man, he was beginning prior to this. Meanwhile Joe who loves wealthy George's daughter but he is not interested in the money. Joe ends up sleeping with Lizzie, though not getting her pregnant, Lizzie who loves Joe but knows he loves another. When Ellen hears about Joe and Lizzie, and knowing about her attempted suicide. Joe sees he must do the right thing and will marry Lizzie. Gibbs has gone out for the night and comes back around 2 a.m. when Ellen noticed him. Gibbs' behavior is off and when the murder of his father. A trail and guilty verdict for Gibbs but he tells Ellen that he did not murder his father and Ellen's relief and the misunderstandings after that night. Ellen stood by Gibbs and after the night of the murder, they sent Tommy away with married Joe and Lizzie. Gibbs' health takes a toll on him for the months in prison. George tried to help his friend, Ellen looked to find the real murderer. When Tommy comes back home, he tells her about grandpa and playing with the gun which Tom thought was empty not knowing that Lizzie put one bullet in it. Tommy shots his grandfather not knowing what happened, putting the gun in the garage can, waiting to talk to Lizzie about what happened but fell asleep. The prosecutor finds out from innocent Tommy which brings Gibbs out of prison but a changed man but happy with his wife and son in California, where they live a simple life. Joe and Lizzie visit them with baby Ellen. Joe tells of his love for his wife and his past love was not a real love. Gibbs is dying of a lung infection that was made worse during his ordeal. He tells Joe to look after Ellen and encourage her to marry George who thinks Ellen is the best female ever and none stand close to her. Joe tells of Lillian life of remarriage to someone younger who she bears his mother, who controls the money. She had to give up her inheritance when she remarried but what got her was that her husband willed the majority to Ellen who he trusted more than anyone. Gibbs dies in Ellen's arms. Gibbs saw the error of his ways too late, his life before Ellen and his attention to Lillian which he said he never loved anyone but Ellen.
August 5, 2019
Another novel that got more interesting as I kept reading it! Perhaps old-fashioned, but definitely worth reading!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews