Sarah Orne Jewett

Date of Birth: September 3, 1849

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: June 24, 1909

Biography

Sarah Orne Jewett was an acclaimed American author, best known for her works of regional fiction set in or near South Berwick, Maine, which provide a poignant depiction of New England life in the late 19th century. Born on September 3, 1849, she grew up in South Berwick and developed a love for literature at an early age, inspired by her father, a local physician. Jewett’s writing career took off in the 1860s when her short stories began to appear in magazines. Her most famous work, “The Country of the Pointed Firs,” published in 1896, is considered one of the finest examples of American regional literature. A close friend and companion of fellow writer Annie Fields, Jewett never married and dedicated her life to her literary pursuits and friendships. She passed away on June 24, 1909, but her legacy as a pioneer of regional literature endures.

5 Interesting Facts about Sarah Orne Jewett

1. Sarah Orne Jewett was awarded an honorary degree from Bowdoin College in 1901, making her one of the first women to receive such an honor from the institution.

2. Jewett’s close friendship with Annie Adams Fields, the widow of publisher James T. Fields, greatly influenced her writing and personal life.

3. Her novel “A Country Doctor,” published in 1884, is a semi-autobiographical work inspired by her own experiences and her father’s medical practice.

4. Jewett’s home in South Berwick, Maine, is now a National Historic Landmark and is operated as a museum by Historic New England.

5. She was a mentor to Willa Cather, another prominent American author, who considered Jewett’s advice and support crucial to her own literary development.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Sarah Orne Jewett

1. “Find your quiet center of life and write from that to the world.”

2. “It does seem so pleasant to talk with an old acquaintance that knows what you know. It makes you feel as if you had lived.”

3. “The thing that teases the mind over and over for years, and at last gets itself put down rightly on paper—whether little or great, it belongs to Literature.”

4. “In the life of each of us, I said, there is a place remote and islanded, and given to endless regret or secret happiness.”

5. “The road was new to me, as roads always are going back.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Sarah Orne Jewett’s net worth was modest by modern standards, as she primarily earned her income from writing, which was not a highly lucrative profession in her time. However, her literary works have gained significant cultural and historical value posthumously.