An Arrow in a Sunbeam

Featuring six works of short fiction, An Arrow in a Sunbeam and Other Tales promotes morals and regionalist pride. Each containing a unique theme and virtue, these stories provoke thought while following the lives of compelling characters. Miss Sydney's Flowers encourages the acceptance of change through the depiction of Miss. Sydney, a long-term resident of her town. When the city decides to pave a new road next to her home, Miss Sydney is upset and resentful of the change. However, as the days go by, she realizes the benefits of having a busy street near her house. In A Brave Boy, two brothers, Fred and Albert, who are as opposite as can be, discuss what they would do in the event of a robbery, pondering the true meaning of bravery. Following the life of a mysterious elderly woman, Lady Ferry depicts the relationship between Lady Ferry and a young girl who is left in the care of her cousin after her parents embark on a long sea voyage. Finally, in the title story, An Arrow in a Sunbeam, a church minister seeks out a sad, shabbily dressed widow that he noticed during a service. Originally planning to be of help to her, the minister is shocked when he discovers he has much to learn from the widow. Described as a touching and masterfully-written collection, An Arrow in a Sunbeam and Other Tales by Sarah Orne Jewett is sentimental and intriguing. First published for children, An Arrow in a Sunbeam and Other Tales promotes timeless virtues and themes in a gentle and accessible manner, yet is sophisticated and applicable to older audiences. This edition of An Arrow in a Sunbeam and Other Tales by Sarah Orne Jewett features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring An Arrow in a Sunbeam and Other Tales to modern standards while preserving the original tranquility and beauty of the work of Sarah Orne Jewett.

Sarah Orne Jewett (1849 - 1909) was an American novelist, short story writer and poet, best known for her local color works set along or near the southern seacoast of Maine. Jewett is recognized as an important practitioner of American literary regionalism. She published her first important story in the Atlantic Monthly at age 19 and her reputation grew throughout the 1870s and 1880s. Her literary importance arises from her careful, if subdued, vignettes of country life that reflect a contemporary interest in local color rather than plot. Jewett possessed a keen descriptive gift. Jewett made her reputation with the novella The Country of the Pointed Firs (1896). A Country Doctor (1884), a novel reflecting her father and her early ambitions for a medical career and A White Heron (1886), a collection of short stories are among her finest work. Some of Jewett's poetry was collected in Verses (1916) and she also wrote three children's books. Willa Cather described Jewett as a significant influence on her development as a writer and "feminist critics have since championed her writing for its rich account of women's lives and voices."