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Originally published in 1886, "A White Heron" is one of Sarah Orne Jewett's most well-known and most-anthologized stories
. Like most of Jewett's fiction, "A White Heron" is set in the countryside on the coast of Maine. A narrator tells the story of a young girl walking through the woods, where she meets a stranger hunting for a unique bird for his collection. The young girl must decide if she will help the hunter find the elusive creature. "A White Heron" experienced a resurgence in popularity during the rise of feminist literary criticism for its portrayal of a strong female character.