Webher first novel, retribution, a serial for the national era, published in book form in 1846, was so well received that she gave up teaching and became a regular contributor to various. Webin e. d. e. n. Southworth’s the hidden hand, an allusion to the book of judith points to parallels in its formalist elements—intertextuality, plot features, and. Publisher chicago [ill. ] : Webthe hidden hand in the new york ledger christopher looby ¯ ne of the famous facts about e. d. e. n. Southworth’s novelthe hidden hand (1859) is that it was. Webthe hidden hand (or capitola the madcap) is a serial novel by e. Southworth first published in the new york ledger in 1859, and was southworth's most. Weba displaced wife turned writer, southworth, by her own admission, wrote not just for the growing number of women readers who were drawn to her strong female characters and. She is taken in by a rich relative and then the plot thickens. Webemma southworth's 'the hidden hand' is a captivating novel that delves deep into the themes of mystery, romance, and intrigue. Set in the 19th century, this.