The First Violin (1877) is Jessie Fothergill's third novel. It was written in Düsseldorf and tells the story of an English girl who rejects the attentions of the rich farmer for the strange attractions of a German. The story was refused by two publishers because it dealt with an affair by a married woman. Excerpt from the book: "The door was opened. Jane held it open and said nothing (a trifling habit of hers, which used to cause me much annoyance), and a tall woman walked slowly into the room. I rose and looked earnestly at her, surprised and somewhat nervous when I saw who she was—Miss Hallam, of Hallam Grange, our near neighbor, but a great stranger to us, nevertheless, so far, that is, as personal intercourse went. "Your servant told me that every one was out except Miss May," she remarked, in a harsh, decided voice, as she looked not so much at me as toward me, and I perceived that there was something strange about her eyes." Artist Bio Author: Jessie Fothergill (1851-1891) was a British novelist. Her third novel, The First Violin was very popular and made Fothergill's name.