Grace Weldon by J. H. Ingraham
August 2026
Originally published almost a quarter century before Horatio Alger became the foremost producer of such “rags-to-riches” fiction—and in some errant minds the originator of the genre—Grace Weldon; or, Frederica, the Bonnet-Girl is a sequel to Jemmy Daily; or, The Little News Vender, which was published in 1843.
In addition to showing what happens to Jemmy Daily’s main characters later in life (most particularly Jemmy himself), as naturally expected, the author goes to great lengths to describe the bitterness and disappointment of a light-skinned brother and sister of African descent who find they cannot enter into fashionable society as equals in spite of their light coloring. There is remarkable depth to the development of these two characters, their shame directed at their own “accursed race,” and their anger at the white race that won’t accept them.
In addition to showing what happens to Jemmy Daily’s main characters later in life (most particularly Jemmy himself), as naturally expected, the author goes to great lengths to describe the bitterness and disappointment of a light-skinned brother and sister of African descent who find they cannot enter into fashionable society as equals in spite of their light coloring. There is remarkable depth to the development of these two characters, their shame directed at their own “accursed race,” and their anger at the white race that won’t accept them.