A virtuous young lady moves into a Hudson River town after years in Germany.
Charlotte Dunning Wood, born in 1858 or 1859 in Poughkeepsie, New York, wrote two novels and various stories before marrying Edward Linn Morse (the youngest son of Samuel F.B. Morse, inventor of the code that bears his name) in 1888. She died in 1898.
“For an entertaining summer story, Upon a Cast, by Charlotte Dunning, may be recommended. The name is meaningless, but the story is effectively told. Society life in a fashionable town on the Hudson . . . , the embarrassment of one fair maid with two unfortunate lovers . . . form the subject matter of the book, which is agreeably free from dark and treasonable shadows. Miss Dunning deserves special praise for the ease and naturalness of her narrative.” Jewish Messenger, July 3, 1885
“A very bright American story. . . . The characters . . . are described with a trenchant and familiar pen. The characters are well drawn and though the incidents are ordinary ones, they are handled with skill. It is a very pleasant and entertaining book.” Texas Siftings, July 11, 1885
“Bright and brisk; its story is sufficient, to say the least; its people are pleasant, well bred, well educated, clever; and its dialogue, which is abundant, is admirable and to the point.” Saturday Review, April 17, 1886
A (somewhat) contrasting view:
“An unusually bright and pretty story, without being remarkable for either power or originality.” Portland Daily Press, July 8, 1885
Download this fortnight’s novel: