I bought this book in an antique store in Upstate New York because of the cover. I've learned since that Mrs. Southworth, who began writing to support herself after her husband left her (she was pregnant too! urg!) was one of the most successful American novelists of the late 19th century. At one point she was earning over $10,000 per year in royalties annually. She was also prolific, writing some 60 novels. You can find more information about Mrs. Southworth all over the Internet, including here and here .
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