[First published in 1884.] Set in Southern California after the Mexican–American War, Ramona portrays the life of a mixed-race Irish–Native American orphan girl, who suffers racial discrimination and hardship. Originally serialized in the Christian Union on a weekly basis, the novel became immensely popular. It has been adapted five times as a film; a play adaptation has been performed annually outdoors since 1923.
The novel's influence on the culture and image of Southern California was considerable. Its sentimental portrayal of Mexican colonial life contributed to establishing a unique cultural identity for the region. As its publication coincided with the arrival of railroad lines in the region, countless tourists visited who wanted to see the locations of the novel.Warning: template has been deprecated.
A review of A Century of Dishonour by the Boston Daily Advertiser in 1887 states: "The report made by Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Kinney is grave, concise, and deeply interesting. It is added to the appendix of this new edition of her book. In this California journey, Mrs. Jackson found the materials for 'Ramona,' the Indian novel, which was the last important work of her life, and in which nearly all the incidents are taken from life.…
