Theron Ware is a young Methodist pastor raised in a strict religious tradition and without much of a worldly education. As his career begins, he quickly finds himself reassigned to a congregation in Octavius, a small town in the Adirondacks. As Ware and his wife settle into their new roles in small-town America, he meets Celia, a young girl fascinated by music, poetry, and literature-and he quickly finds himself struggling with both carnal temptation, and the world of experience outside of...

It was the coldest morning of the winter, thus far, and winter is no joke on those northern tablelands, where the streams still run black in token of their forest origin, and old men remember how the deer used to be driven to their clearings for food, when the snow had piled itself breast high through the fastnesses of the Adirondacks. The wilderness had been chopped and burned backward out of sight since their pioneer days, but this change, if anything, served only to add greater bitterne...

ZEKE TISDALE was the father of Company F. Not that this title had ever been formally conferred upon him, or even recognized in terms, but everybody understood about it. Sometimes Company F was for whole days together exceedingly proud of the relation—but alas! more often it viewed its parent with impatient levity, not to say contempt. In either case, it seemed all the same to Zeke. He was by no means the oldest man in the company, at least as appearances went. Some there were gathered abou...

It was on the night of my thirteenth birthday, I know, that the old farm-house was burned over our heads. By that reckoning I must have been six or seven when I went to live with Farmer Beech, because at the time he testified I had been with him half my life. Abner Beech had often been supervisor for his town, and could have gone to the Assembly, it was said, had he chosen. He was a stalwart, thick-shouldered, big man, with shaggy dark eyebrows shading stern hazel eyes, and with a long, st...

I suppose about the name there is no doubt. For sixty years we have followed that gifted gadabout and gossip, Heine, and called it Philistia. And yet, when one thinks of it, there may have been a mistake after all. Artemus Ward used to say that he had been able, with effort, to comprehend how it was possible to measure the distance between the stars, and even the dimensions and candle-power, so to speak, of those heavenly bodies; what beat him was how astronomers had ever found out their n...

It was on the night of my thirteenth birthday, I know, that the old farm-house was burned over our heads. By that reckoning I must have been six or seven when I went to live with Farmer Beech, because at the time he testified I had been with him half my life. Abner Beech had often been supervisor for his town, and could have gone to the Assembly, it was said, had he chosen. He was a stalwart, thick-shouldered, big man, with shaggy dark eyebrows shading stern hazel eyes, and with a long, st...

"The Young Emperor" by Harold Frederic delves into the life and reign of William II of Germany, exploring the complexities of his character and leadership. Frederic paints a vivid portrait of the young monarch, highlighting his ambitions, struggles, and the political landscape of the time. The narrative captures the essence of a ruler caught between tradition and modernity, showcasing his desire to assert Germany's place on the world stage. Through rich descriptions and insightful commenta...

The story revolves around Nora Lawton, a young woman from a wealthy and influential family. Nora is portrayed as a charming and strong-willed character, but her privileged background brings with it a set of societal expectations and pressures.Nora’s life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Richard Leighton, a man of more modest means but significant personal integrity and ambition. Despite their differing social standings, Nora and Richard form a deep and genuine connection. Their relatio...

The novel follows the life of a young man named John Darnell, who is caught in a web of personal and social conflicts. Darnell is a man of ambition and ideals, but he is also deeply flawed, struggling with his own desires and the expectations placed upon him by society. The title, March Hares, refers to the old English saying "mad as a March hare," symbolizing the madness and unpredictability that underlie the characters' actions and the society they navigate.As the story unfolds, Darnell ...

The story revolves around the struggles and conflicts between two neighboring families, the Westervelts and the Beldens, who have a long-standing rivalry. Amidst this feud, the novel explores themes of love, honor, and the impact of the Civil War on American society.Harold Frederic's "In the Valley" delves into the complexities of rural life and the changes in society following the war. It portrays the tensions between the families and the repercussions of their ongoing feud, providing ins...

The story centers on a group of characters living through the tumultuous decade of the 1860s. The novel explores their experiences and perspectives against the backdrop of major historical events such as the American Civil War and the social and political changes occurring in Europe.Frederic's narrative delves into the impact of these events on the lives of ordinary people, as well as their broader societal implications. The characters grapple with issues of morality, identity, and change ...

The callousness of the question must have grated upon the hired-girl, for she made no reply, and slapped the dough over on the board with an impatient gesture. It was near the close of a fair day, late in May, and the reddened sunlight from the West would have helped to glorify any human being less hopelessly commonplace than Milton Squires as he sat in its full radiance on the doorstep, peeling and quartering apples over a pan which he held between his knees. This sunlight, to reach him, ...