Coniston

In the mountain village of Coniston, where meetinghouse, mill, and old village roads reflect the hard texture of New England life, the old order is already beginning to crack. Cynthia Ware, the minister's educated daughter, is drawn into that change when she meets Jethro Bass, the rough, self-made son of a tanner whose quiet manner conceals uncommon intelligence, wealth, and ambition. What begins as skepticism turns into fascination as Cynthia lends him a book about Napoleon, and Jethro, reading with practical hunger, sees in the emperor a model for rising through the gaps in society. Their conversations spark wit, tension, and a troubling emotional awakening in Cynthia, even as the town watches Jethro with suspicion. Around them, the novel widens to include Coniston's history, its church-and-civic traditions, and figures like Aunt Lucy Prescott, who embodies the older ideals of settlement and self-government. As Jethro moves from outsider to force in public life, the story carries him and Cynthia into the rough world of politics, loyalty, and hidden influence. In Washington, Jethro's plain speech and stubborn persistence secure the Brampton post office for Ephraim Prescott, outmaneuvering polished politicians and exposing the vanity of public men. The result is both comic and triumphant, confirming Jethro as a formidable, underestimated power. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.