Elsie Venner

Elsie Venner is a novel written by Oliver Wendell Holmes. The story revolves around a young woman named Elsie Venner who has a mysterious and potentially dangerous condition caused by the venom of a rattlesnake. Elsies father was a respected physician who experimented with the venom on pregnant women and it is suggested that Elsies condition is a result of this. Elsie is a complex character and her behavior and thoughts are often misunderstood by those around her. The novel explores themes such as the relationship between nature and nurture the influence of heredity on behavior and the power of love and redemption. The novel also provides a commentary on the societal norms of the time including the role of women and the influence of religion.