From Jest to Earnest

by Edward Payson Roe

Very dimly indeed, laughed Harcourt. "Still, --now that our necks are safe, thanks to Mr. Hemstead, I'm glad I went. Human nature lies on the surface out at Scrub Oaks, and one can learn much about it in a little while. Come, little coz, cheer up," he said to Addie, drawing her closer to him. "See, we are down the hill and across the bridge. No danger of the horses running up the long hill before us, and by the time they reach the top they will be glad to go the rest of the way quietly."

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1872

About the author

Reverend Edward Payson Roe (1838-1888) was an American novelist born in Moodna, Orange County, New York. He studied at Williams College and at Auburn Theological Seminary. In 1862 he became chaplain of the Second New York Cavalry, U.S. V., and in 1864 chaplain of Hampton Hospital, in Virginia. In 1866-74 he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Highland Falls, New York. In 1874 he moved to Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, where he devoted himself to the writing of fiction and to horticulture. During the American Civil War he wrote weekly letters to the New York Evangelist, and subsequently lectured on the war and wrote for periodicals. Amongst his works are Barriers Burned Away (1872), What Can She Do? (1873), Opening a Chestnut Burr (1874), Near to Nature's Heart (1876), A Face Illumined (1878), Success with Small Fruits (1880), A Day of Fate (1880), Without a Home (1881), An Unexpected Result (1883), His Sombre Rivals (1884), A Young Girl's Wooing (1884), An Original Belle (1885), He Fell in Love with His Wife (1886), Driven Back to Eden (1886) and The Earth Trembled (1887).

Reviews

[Allison Wonderland Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

to think I almost decided to put this book down for later!!! the title intrigued me, but I was busy with college classes and wasn't able to read it much. then summer came and as of these past three days, every free moment of mine has been spent reading this incredible, forgotten treasure. it's nearly 2:00 a.m. now, but my heart couldn't be more awake. this book is decidedly more theologically founded than his others, yet I didn't feel preached at ~ but instead like a friend was speaking to me of and guiding me towards Something he dearly loved. and did I mention how cute the romance is??? just when I thought couldn't love E. P. Roe's writing any more, I have been proven wrong and I honestly have never been happier to have been so utterly wrong in my life.

[Hannah Linder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly a work of art. I found it fascinating, interesting, and full of skillfully arranged words that stunningly depicted the heart of every character! For a book this old, I was not expecting to find so much enjoyment. I honestly enjoyed this story more than many classics I have read. Definite five stars!

[Rhys-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Victorian novel. It is set in winter, with several friends and relatives visiting Mrs. Marchmont and her daughter. One of these relatives is Lottie Marsden, a beautiful, frivolous girl who is the darling of society. Also there are Mr. De Forrest, the man everyone expects Lottie to marry, and Bel Parton.
They learn that they are to have another guest--Frank Hemstead, who is studying to become a pastor and go West. Lottie comes up with a plan: to make him believe she cares for him and achieve yet another conquest, while obtaining entertainment for herself and her friends. But as they spend more time together, Lottie becomes more and more receptive to the God Hemstead talks about and even begins to develop feelings for Hemstead himself. But what will happen when he learns about the jest?

The romance and Lottie's conversion story are both so well-written. The characters were realistic and seemed like they could've been real people. I wish, though, that Bel had received more character development. She intrigued me from the beginning, since I related to her far more than I did to Lottie.

This book has some really good quotes that I will share.
"'I suppose we all ought to make more allowance for what is said in mere sport and repartee,' said Hemstead. 'But what to you is law and force is to me a personal Friend.'"

"'Oh dear!' said Lottie. 'I'm not fit to counsel a downy chicken.'"

"'Now, I see no proof,' he continued, 'that you are not a Christian because you are unhappy, or because you have had "hateful thoughts", as you call them. You evidently do not welcome these "hateful thoughts". The question as to whether you are a Christian is to be settled on entirely different grounds. Have you thrown off allegiance to that most merciful and sympathetic of friends that you led me to see last Sunday as vividly as I now see you?' Lottie shook her head, but said remorsefully, 'But I have scarcely thought of Him to-day.' 'Rest assured He has thought of you.'"

[Kim Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in 1872. I liked this much more than I expected. I read this mainly due to letters written in 1875 for my work. This story was mentioned in those letters. I loved the witty dialogue between the primary characters. Set in the country around Hudson New York a group of high society young people go to the country to visit their high society family during Christmas. A plan is hatched that the most beautiful among them will flirt and get the other guest, a young simple man who is becoming a minister to fall in love with her and then break his heart. Hence the jest. As the story unfolds once can only imagine how things play out. There is quite a bit of religion discussed and it does play a role in the transformation to earnest. It reminded me of a nicer version of Taming of the Shrew. The Importance of Being Earnest would not be written for 20 more years and I have not read that play but I am surmising the plot is similar.
Reading this book gives me further insight to the writers of those letters found in the archives at my work.

[Sheila Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

My great grandfather wrote in his journal in 1886 that he had read this book. He offered no comment on what he'd thought of it, but I imagine that the book had some influence on him as he was a young man at the time. My local library tracked down a copy for me (not this edition). I was very curious to read it, and what I found most interesting was to compare the social progress of that time with now.

[Naomi McCullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lottie determines, on an impish whim, to make her distant parson cousin fall for her during Christmas by pretending to be her idea of a pious girl. When he arrives, she finds he is nothing like she expected and is in sudden danger of falling in love with him instead-but is she willing to sacrifice her baubles for the calling of a parsonage?

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

The time is Christmas, and the setting is at a lovely house in the country, owned by Lottie Marsden's aunt, who has invited her among other relatives, (including a dandy cousin who has his cap set for Lottie), to spend the holiday there. Everyone has arrived when they here that another cousin, (poorer), is coming-a soon to be minister. Lottie, a well known belle, proposes to trick him into falling in love with her, by pretending to be pious and in need of guidance-in jest. However, when the cousin arrives, he is not at all as she expected, and it isn't too far into the story before her jest, turns into earnest! A wonderful Christian fiction read, that uplifts and leaves the reader satisfied to the brim.

[Joanna Chaplin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit jarring for the narrator to preach at the reader so directly. I'm used to modern, "transparent" prose. But the attitudes were much more in line with mine than I expected, especially in terms of Gospel based on love and grace, and a refreshingly practical attitude toward the abilities of women. In particular, it is stated that there are scores of female heroes throughout history, and that they can sacrifice and endure hardship just as well as men. This is a thoroughly, unabashedly Christian text, though, and the female lead's falling in love with Jesus Christ is presented with as much or more care and attention as her falling in love with the male lead. So it is probably not to everyone's taste.