Husks

by Marion Harland

"Husks" centers on the life of its protagonist and the challenges she faces within her social environment. The title, "Husks," suggests a focus on superficial aspects of society or the idea of uncovering the true nature of things beneath a seemingly attractive exterior.

The novel likely explores themes such as societal expectations, personal integrity, and the contrast between appearances and reality. The story may involve a protagonist who grapples with issues of social status, morality, or personal growth, discovering that what appears to be valuable or desirable on the surface may be lacking in substance.

Harland's storytelling often includes detailed character development and an examination of social norms, so "Husks" probably features rich descriptions of characters and their interactions, as well as a critique of societal values and behaviors.

135 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1863

About the author

Mary Virginia Terhune (née Hawes), also known by her penname Marion Harland, was an American author. At age twenty-three she won a $50 prize from the Southern Era periodical for her article on temperance. Encouraged, she published her first novel, Alone, to great acclaim. Despite giving birth to six children and running a household, she never stopped writing, eventually publishing twenty-five novels and three volumes of short stories, as well as numerous books on travel, biography, colonial history, and domestic guidance.

Despite her successful career, Terhune was generally unsupportive of the nascent feminism of her day. Ironically, according to Susan Koppelman in the Old Maids anthology (the source of this biographical note):

She has long been dismissed as an unimportant writer, partly because of her phenomenal output (I think many critics assume that such quantity can't be of high quality) and partly because of the fact that those who cherish the ideals she advocated do not ordinarily go looking for forgotten women writers.

Terhune's three surviving children also became authors.