Author shannon holmes novel venner

1861 novel by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Elsie Venner: A Romance of Destiny is an 1861 novel by American author and physician Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Later dubbed the first of his "medicated novels", it tells the story of a young woman whose mother was bitten by a rattlesnake while pregnant, which imbued the child with some characteristics of the reptile. Bernard Langdon, who takes a teaching job at Elsie's school, becomes curious about her, even as he slightly fears her.

The novel explores themes of original sin and human nature. Its title character may have been inspired by a woman that Oliver Wendell Holmes knew while living in western Massachusetts.

Author shannon holmes novel venner crossword clue

Holmes began serializing the novel, his first, in 1859. Along with two other books, Holmes termed Elsie Venner one of his "medicated novels" because of his attempts to "diagnose" medical problems inherent in human nature.

Plot summary

The novel is narrated by an unnamed medical professor.

One of his s