The Wide Wide World by Elizabeth Wetherell

Considered the first American bestseller, this work of sentimentalism based on the life of young Ellen Montgomery. The story begins with Ellen’s happy life being disrupted by the fact that her mother is very ill and her father must take her to Europe, requiring Ellen to leave home to live with an almost-unknown aunt. Though Ellen tries to act strong for her mother’s sake, she is devastated and then things continue to go wrong from there. This is a hardback edition, with a beautiful decorated cover and spine, although in somewhat poor condition inside, all the pages are still attached and it is still readable.#B037