Talk:Sarah Orne Jewett

Image of Sarah Orne Jewett

I notice that an anonymous IP erased the image of Sarah Orne Jewett, claiming it is that of the writer Willa Cather instead. I didn't add this image, and I don't know what Sarah Orne Jewett looked like, so I don't know if this user is in error or not. It would, however, be nice to have an image of Jewett, of course. I will attempt to doublecheck this when I have time, but perhaps a Jewett expert out there knows the answer. MarmadukePercy (talk) 17:59, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

Never mind. I've just uploaded a new photo that is definitely of Jewett in place of the old one. MarmadukePercy (talk) 19:30, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

I think anonymous is right that the earlier photo was of Jewett's friend Cather.--John Foxe (talk) 19:55, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

Yes, I think so too, and that's why I thought it best to go get a 'verifiable' photo. MarmadukePercy (talk) 20:05, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

There's no doubt about the one you've added. Thanks.--John Foxe (talk) 20:14, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

You're welcome. Happy to help. MarmadukePercy (talk) 20:34, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

Geographical Errors

I have lived in southern Maine and have traveled up the coast many times. I have also read Country of the Pointed Firs many times.

1. South Berwick is not a seaport. It is a small town about 10-15 miles up the Piscataqua River from the sea, at which point only a small craft could access it, maybe a small barge, at best. It is, of course her birthplace.
2. Dunnett Landing is based on a combination of two towns on the Port Clyde peninsula, Port Clyde, and Tenant's Harbor. It is my understanding that Ms. Jewett summered at Tenant's Harbor. Port Clyde is at the bottom of the peninsula, and most resembles Dunnett Landing.

I hope this is helpful. Smaxam (talk) 06:22, 31 May 2012 (UTC)

Thanks. I've tweaked the wording a bit.--John Foxe (talk) 02:45, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

Another former Mainer chiming in here. The revised wording is better, but still a little misleading. The part of Maine that Jewett depicts in Country of the Pointed Firs is three counties away from South Berwick, in an entirely different geographic region. South Berwick is in extreme southern Southern Maine, a region where the coast is fairly straight and mostly sandy, with few islands, no firs to speak of, and not much exposed bedrock. The Boothbay/Port Clyde area is in Midcoast Maine, the part of the state where the coast is broken into thousands of rocky islands and peninsulas separated by tidal channels. Whether by road or by sea, South Berwick is closer to Boston than it is to where Dunnet Landing would be if Dunnet Landing actually existed. 206.208.105.129 (talk) 18:15, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Thanks. I've tweaked again.--John Foxe (talk) 20:52, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Actress Sarah Jewett

Portrait photograph of Sara Jewett, the actress

An image I have not seen before on this page shows the actress Sara Jewett, not the author, Sarah Orne Jewett.

Richard Cary in Sarah Orne Jewett Letters (1967) says:

"Sara Jewett (1847-1899) was the leading lady of Augustin Daly's Union Square Theatre Company. Miss Jewett of South Berwick recounts drolly that upon several occasions during her travels she was mistaken for Miss Jewett of New York, then considered one of the most beautiful women in America. In an ironic extension of the parallel, illness and enforced retirement became the lot of both thespian and literary Jewett. Sara Jewett's last appearance as an actress took place in the spring of 1883." (46)

If I were more skilled, I'd remove this photograph of the actress standing before a backdrop. As I am not, I'll leave that to another. (Terry Heller, Coe College, the Sarah Orne Jewett Text Project) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.32.67.166 (talk) 15:51, 29 December 2018 (UTC)

Thanks, Professor Heller.John Foxe (talk) 23:14, 29 December 2018 (UTC)