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The Life Uncovered in A Lonely, Hard Fishing Village..
The Country of the Pointed Firs is an 1896 short story sequence by Sarah Orne Jewett which is considered by some literary critics to be her finest work. Henry James described it as her "beautiful little quantum of achievement." Ursula K. Le Guin praises its "quietly powerful rhythms."
Because it is loosely structured, many critics view the book not as a novel, but a series of sketches; however, its structure is unified through both setting and theme. The novel can be read as a study of the effects of isolation and hardship experienced by the inhabitants of the decaying fishing villages along the Maine coast.
Sarah Orne Jewett, who wrote the book when she was 47, was largely responsible for popularizing the regionalism genre with her sketches of the fictional Maine fishing village of Dunnet Landing.
Like Jewett, the narrator is a woman, a writer, unattached, genteel in demeanor, feisty and zealously protective of her time to write.
About the author
American novelist, poet, and short story writer Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909) is renowned for her contributions to regional literary realism. She was born in South Berwick, Maine, on September 3, 1849, and lived there for the majority of her life. Jewett was raised in a prominent New England household and went to local schools. Jewett is primarily linked to the literary trend known as American literary regionalism, sometimes known as local colour fiction, because her writing frequently focuses on the people and environments of rural New England. Her paintings are highly praised for their realistic and poignant portrayals of small-town life, which capture the subtleties of nature, community, and the shifting roles of women in the late 19th century. Jewett's work is distinguished by its genuineness, simplicity, and attention to small aspects in daily life. She frequently praised the wonders of nature and took inspiration from the people and places she saw in her own New England. Because of her literary contributions to American literature, Sarah Orne Jewett is still researched and valued for her understanding of human experience and regional culture.
