Autumnal leaves: tales and sketches in prose and rhyme by Lydia Maria Child
"Autumnal Leaves: Tales and Sketches in Prose and Rhyme" by Lydia Maria Child is a collection of literary sketches and stories written in the mid-19th century. The work intertwines poetry and prose, offering a variety of narratives that explore themes of love, beauty, nature, and social distinction. At the heart of these sketches are characters like Edward Vernon and Sibella Flower, who navigate the complexities of class, aspiration, and romantic ideals withintheir societal constraints. The opening of this collection introduces us to a scene where social class and beauty intersect, showcasing the characters of Edward Vernon and Sibella Flower. Edward, an aristocratic young man, is captivated by Sibella, a beautiful nursery maid, causing tension within his family, particularly with his status-conscious sister, Julia. Sibella, meanwhile, struggles with her own feelings, aware of the societal barriers that separate her from Edward. As their admiration for one another grows, the narrative hints at the challenges they will face due to their differing social standings, setting a tone of bittersweet romanticism that permeates the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Autumnal leaves: tales and sketches in prose and rhyme
Original Publication
United States: C.S. Francis & Co.,1856,pubdate 1857.
Note
Reading ease score: 68.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Contents
The eglantine -- A serenade -- The juryman -- The fairy friend -- Wergeland, the poet -- The emigrant boy -- Home and politics -- To the trailing arbutus -- The Catholic and the Quaker -- The rival mechanicians -- A song -- Utouch and Touchu -- The brother and sister -- The stream of life -- The man that killed his neighbours -- Intelligence of animals -- The world that I am passing through -- Jan and Zaida -- To the nasturtium -- The ancient clairvoyant -- Spirit and matter -- The Kansas emigrants -- I want to go home.
Credits
Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)