Elsie Venner is a captivating novel that delves into themes of heredity, morality, and the supernatural. The story follows the mysterious Elsie Venner, a young woman who believes she is cursed with the spirit of a snake. As she navigates her way through society, she must grapple with her unusual condition and the prejudice of those around her.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. masterfully weaves together various elements of melodrama, romance, and social commentary in this novel. The character of Elsie is complex and tragic, drawing the reader in with her struggles and inner turmoil. The moral dilemmas faced by the other characters in the story also add depth and richness to the narrative.

Overall, Elsie Venner is a thought-provoking and compelling read that will leave readers pondering questions of fate, free will, and the nature of evil. Holmes' writing is both eloquent and engaging, making this book a must-read for fans of classic literature.

Book Description:
Bernard Langdon is close to earning his degree in medicine when his family finds itself in financial difficulties, forcing Langdon to interrupt his studies for a time in order to earn money with which to fund the rest of his degree. He therefore leaves Boston in order to teach at a school in a village in the area. One of his students is Elsie Venner, a seventeen year-old girl, who is avoided by her peers and keeps apart. Somehow, Elsie exerts a great fascination on Langdon, as there is something distinctly different about her with her strangeness and quick temper.

Elsie Venner is one of Oliver Wendell Holmes' "medicated novels", in which he explores a medical condition of a character. Holmes was teaching at Harvard Medical School when this book was published, and he chose to let a professor of medicine narrate the story. Elsie Venner is notable for its strong Boston local colour, being at the same time the book in which Holmes coined the term "Boston Brahmin". - Summary by Carolin