Jessie Phillips opens in those halcyon days of childhood, in those “village days” in Deepbrook when there are no factories. Industrialization has not yet spoiled the pristine landscape of human decency and community conscience. It is a time when money comes easily, and many young people go to the marriage altar with only cheerful expectations. All is well – in fact, all is too well. The reader knows such days cannot continue forever. Indeed, Trollope warns that the children are marrying “too young by at least ten years–losing thereby the happiest portion of existence, and doing all they could towards turning the pleasant village of Deepbrook into a very unpleasant one.” Besides typifying the pessimism in …
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Citation: Ayres, Brenda. "Jessie Phillips: A Tale of the Present Day". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 27 April 2006 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16893, accessed 06 May 2024.]
