The country of the pointed firs and other fiction

Willa Cather's assessment of The Country of the Pointed Firs has done much to ensure a growing recognition of its qualities. In this novella, a writer moves to the quiet Maine village of Dunnel Landing, seeking a hermitage away from the busy city. Instead of isolation she discovers a rich community that exercises and extends her powers as an observer and conversationalist. She returns to the city refreshed, her vision broader and her relationships strengthened. This volume combines Jewett's classic novella and its four short sequels with nine more of her best stories, illustrating the range of her literary style and exemplifying her interest in the position of women in nineteenth-century America. Terry Heller's introduction examines Jewett's work within the mainstream of American literature. Useful annotation, plus a helpful list of the plant and herb lore to which Jewett makes frequent reference, further illuminate her stories for the reader.