Main-Travelled Roads By: Hamlin Garland (1860-1940)
Main-Travelled Roads is a collection of short stories written by Hamlin Garland that provides readers with a glimpse into the hardships faced by Midwestern farmers in the late 19th century. The stories are remarkably realistic and offer an authentic portrayal of the struggles and challenges that have become an integral part of the farmers' lives in this era. Garland's writing style is simple yet poignant, capturing the essence of the harsh rural landscape and the relentless toil these farmers endure. The stories are filled with vivid descriptions that transport readers to a time when life was dictated by the whims of unpredictable weather and backbreaking labor. Through his vivid imagery, Garland elicits a strong sense of empathy for his characters, making their trials and tribulations feel all too real. Each story explores a different aspect of the "main-travelled roads" of existence, depicting various aspects of rural life – from the giddy excitement of young love to the crushing weight of financial hardship and the aching solitude experienced by those trapped in a rural community. Garland paints a picture of a world where life is cyclical, with each season bringing both hope and despair. While the stories often focus on the grim reality of rural existence, Garland manages to infuse his writing with moments of tenderness and beauty. Whether through a fleeting moment of connection between two lonely souls or the simple wonders of nature's beauty, the author reminds readers of the resilience and capacity for joy that can be found even in the most challenging circumstances. Main-Travelled Roads highlights the timeless themes of human struggle, perseverance, and the pursuit of a better life. Garland's craftsmanship shines through as he weaves together stories that are both emotionally powerful and socially significant. His sharp observations and keen understanding of human nature bring a sense of authenticity to the tales, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a deeply personal level. Overall, Main-Travelled Roads is a captivating and thought-provoking collection of stories that illuminates the lives of those living in rural America during a tumultuous period of history. Garland's ability to evoke sympathy and understanding for his characters, as well as his skillful storytelling, make this book a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those who paved the way for modern American agriculture. First Page: Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com Main Travelled Roads by Hamlin Garland To My Father And Mother Whose Half Century Pilgrimage on the Main Travelled Road of Life Has Brought Them Only Toil and Deprivation, This Book of Stories Is Dedicated By a Son to Whom Every Day Brings a Deepening Sense of His Parents' Silent Heroism The main travelled road in the West (as everywhere) is hot and dusty in summer, and desolate and drear with mud in fall and spring, and in winter the winds sweep the snow across it; but it does sometimes cross a rich meadow where the songs of the larks and bobolinks and blackbirds are tangled. Follow it far enough, it may lead past a bend in the river where the water laughs eternally over its shallows. Mainly it is long and wearyful and has a dull little town at one end, and a home of toil at the other. Like the main travelled road of life, it is traversed by many classes of people, but the poor and the weary predominate. Table of Contents Preface A Branch Road Up the Coulee Among the Corn Rows The Return of a Private Under the Lion's Paw The Creamery Man A Day's Pleasure Mrs Ripley's Trip Uncle Ethan Ripley God's Ravens A "Good Fellow's" Wife PREFACE In the summer of 1887, after having been three years in Boston and six years absent from my old home in northern Iowa, I found myself with money enough to pay my railway fare to Ordway, South Dakota, where my father and mother were living, and as it cost very little extra to go by way of Dubuque and Charles City, I planned to visit Osage, Iowa, and the farm we had opened on Dry Run prairie in 1871... Continue reading book >>

Main-Travelled Roads By: Hamlin Garland (1860-1940)

Main-Travelled Roads is a collection of short stories written by Hamlin Garland that provides readers with a glimpse into the hardships faced by Midwestern farmers in the late 19th century. The stories are remarkably realistic and offer an authentic portrayal of the struggles and challenges that have become an integral part of the farmers' lives in this era.

Garland's writing style is simple yet poignant, capturing the essence of the harsh rural landscape and the relentless toil these farmers endure. The stories are filled with vivid descriptions that transport readers to a time when life was dictated by the whims of unpredictable weather and backbreaking labor. Through his vivid imagery, Garland elicits a strong sense of empathy for his characters, making their trials and tribulations feel all too real.

Each story explores a different aspect of the "main-travelled roads" of existence, depicting various aspects of rural life – from the giddy excitement of young love to the crushing weight of financial hardship and the aching solitude experienced by those trapped in a rural community. Garland paints a picture of a world where life is cyclical, with each season bringing both hope and despair.

While the stories often focus on the grim reality of rural existence, Garland manages to infuse his writing with moments of tenderness and beauty. Whether through a fleeting moment of connection between two lonely souls or the simple wonders of nature's beauty, the author reminds readers of the resilience and capacity for joy that can be found even in the most challenging circumstances.

Main-Travelled Roads highlights the timeless themes of human struggle, perseverance, and the pursuit of a better life. Garland's craftsmanship shines through as he weaves together stories that are both emotionally powerful and socially significant. His sharp observations and keen understanding of human nature bring a sense of authenticity to the tales, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a deeply personal level.

Overall, Main-Travelled Roads is a captivating and thought-provoking collection of stories that illuminates the lives of those living in rural America during a tumultuous period of history. Garland's ability to evoke sympathy and understanding for his characters, as well as his skillful storytelling, make this book a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those who paved the way for modern American agriculture.

First Page:

Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com

Main Travelled Roads

Hamlin Garland

My Father And Mother Whose Half Century Pilgrimage on the Main Travelled Road of Life Has Brought Them Only Toil and Deprivation, This Book of Stories Is Dedicated By a Son to Whom Every Day Brings a Deepening Sense of His Parents' Silent Heroism

The main travelled road in the West (as everywhere) is hot and dusty in summer, and desolate and drear with mud in fall and spring, and in winter the winds sweep the snow across it; but it does sometimes cross a rich meadow where the songs of the larks and bobolinks and blackbirds are tangled. Follow it far enough, it may lead past a bend in the river where the water laughs eternally over its shallows.

Mainly it is long and wearyful and has a dull little town at one end, and a home of toil at the other. Like the main travelled road of life, it is traversed by many classes of people, but the poor and the weary predominate.

Table of Contents

Preface A Branch Road Up the Coulee Among the Corn Rows The Return of a Private Under the Lion's Paw The Creamery Man A Day's Pleasure Mrs Ripley's Trip Uncle Ethan Ripley God's Ravens A "Good Fellow's" Wife

PREFACE

In the summer of 1887, after having been three years in Boston and six years absent from my old home in northern Iowa, I found myself with money enough to pay my railway fare to Ordway, South Dakota, where my father and mother were living, and as it cost very little extra to go by way of Dubuque and Charles City, I planned to visit Osage, Iowa, and the farm we had opened on Dry Run prairie in 1871... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Literature
Short stories
Westerns

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