New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1897. A novel by this prolific and extremely popular 19th century writer - she wrote at least 39 novels, as well as short stories. Her total sales of a reported 2 million books in her lifetime was second only to that of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Although her novels were admittedly sentimental, she examined gender relationships, as well as those of class and race, and created heroines that women could identify with. Her obituary in The Nation noted "It is an eternal paradox of our world of letters that the books which enjoy the largest sale are barely recognized as existing by the guardians of literary tradition." However, her books are beginning to be reappraised by scholars interested in women's social history, and this copy would be of interest to those interested in the publishing history. Originally published in 1871, this is a title in the Madison Square Series of "the best stories of the best authors," published by G. W. Dillingham, successor to G.W. Carleton (the publisher with whom Holmes had the longest and most enduring relationship.) 400 pp. An ad for Holmes's newest book - Mrs Hallam's Companion - inside the back cover. This ad notes "nearly two million sold." List of titles on back covers.