My Wife and I; Or, Harry Henderson's History

In this quietly ambitious novel a bright, self‑sufficient young woman navigates the expectations of marriage and the burgeoning ideas of reform that swirl through mid‑century New York. Through a series of lively sketches—her own “child‑wife,” an imagined “shadow‑wife,” and a series of spirited encounters with friends and suitors—the narrator probes the tension between personal ambition and the conventional roles prescribed to women. The author’s preface makes clear that the characters are composites, crafted to illustrate a class of modern thinkers rather than to serve as direct portraits of any real person.

The narrative unfolds with humor and earnest observation, tracing the heroine’s early steps into college, her flirtations with radical circles, and the gentle, sometimes uncomfortable, education she receives from society’s elders. Readers will find a thoughtful portrait of a generation wrestling with the “women’s question,” presented in a style that blends domestic detail with broader social commentary, all while maintaining a warm, conversational tone.