Mary-'Gusta

"Mary-'Gusta" by Joseph Crosby Lincoln is a captivating New England romance classic. Joseph Crosby Lincoln, celebrated for his vivid portrayal of small-town life and charming characters, weaves a tale of love, loyalty, and resilience that captures the essence of coastal New England. At its heart, "Mary-'Gusta" is a story of personal growth and self-discovery, as the eponymous Mary navigates the challenges of family expectations, societal pressures, and matters of the heart. Lincoln's keen insight into human nature and his gift for creating relatable characters breathe life into Mary and the residents of South Harniss, transporting readers to a world filled with coastal charm and timeless beauty. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Cape Cod, Lincoln's evocative descriptions paint a vivid portrait of a community bound together by tradition, friendship, and the enduring bonds of love. Through Mary's journey of love and self-realization, Lincoln explores themes of identity, belonging, and the pursuit of happiness in the face of adversity. With its blend of romance, humor, and heartwarming storytelling, "Mary-'Gusta" stands as a testament to Joseph Crosby Lincoln's talent as a writer and his enduring legacy as one of America's foremost chroniclers of small-town life. Through its pages, readers are transported to a world where love conquers all and the ties that bind us are as strong as the ocean tides.

Joseph Crosby Lincoln was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer, with many of his works situated on a fictional Cape Cod. Lincoln was born in 1870 in Brewster, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, and after his father died, his mother relocated the family to Chelsea, Massachusetts, an industrial community outside of Boston. Lincoln's writing career extolling "old Cape Cod" can be viewed as an attempt to return to an Eden that he had fled due to familial sorrow. Lincoln's work was frequently featured in renowned journals like The Saturday Evening Post and The Delineator. Lincoln was aware of contemporary naturalist writers like Frank Norris and Theodore Dreiser, who utilized American literature to delve into the depths of human nature, but he rejected the creative exercise. Lincoln stated that he was content "spinning yarns" that made readers feel good about themselves and their neighbors. His work served as the basis for six films and a short.