Java Head

Name: Java Head
Author: Joseph Hergesheimer

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About This Book

Set in a coastal New England seaport, the narrative follows a prominent mercantile family whose domestic life and commercial ventures collide through voyages and contact with distant ports. Intimate attention to manners and material surroundings frames intergenerational tensions, romantic complications, and the cultural frictions that arise from trade and travel. Detailed psychological portraits and lush sensory description trace shifts in taste, authority, and conscience, showing how social ambition, personal desire, and economic interest reshape loyalties and reputations within a confined community.

About the Author

Joseph Hergesheimer

Joseph Hergesheimer was an American novelist and short story writer known for his vivid and lyrical prose. Active in the early 20th century, he explored themes of love, ambition, and the complexities of human relationships. His notable works include "Cytherea," which delves into the intricacies of desire and identity, and "Java Head," a tale set against the backdrop of the East Indies that examines cultural clashes and personal transformation. Hergesheimer's writing often reflects a deep appreciation for the beauty of language and a keen insight into the human condition, contributing significantly to American literature during his time.

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