Deephaven and Selected Stories and Sketches Book

These short stories and sketches are among Jewett's earlier work and indeed, they read as if they were written by a developing writer. Jewett's strongest writing in this collection describes the countryside. Some pieces read like she lost the thread of the idea or is writing a list. "Deephaven," the title novella is the best of the group. "Tom's Husband," the story of a couple who decide to reverse roles in the late 1800's shows her potential. The title is an interesting choice. Tom, the husband, becomes a stay-at-home housekeeper while his wife goes off to successfully manage the family mill. Eventually the husband gets bored at home and whisks his wife off to a holiday in Europe. There the story ends. Jewett recognized the strictures of convention placed on 19th century women but did not fully develop the idea. Or she did the best she could at the time in which she lived. This story may have led her to write, The Country Doctor.