Buds and Bird Voices (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")   By: Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

In "Buds and Bird Voices" from his collection of stories titled "Mosses from an Old Manse," Nathaniel Hawthorne effortlessly transports readers into a world of delicate beauty and profound symbolism. This mesmerizing collection of tales explores the themes of love, nature, and the human condition with Hawthorne's characteristic depth and artistry.

The book opens with the titular story, "Buds and Bird Voices," which immediately captivates readers with its lyrical prose and vivid imagery. Hawthorne weaves a tale of unrequited love that unfolds in a secluded garden. Through the lens of two neighboring households, the author explores the diverse paths love can take, from a blossoming romance to a heartbreaking unattainable desire. Interwoven with the ever-present voices of birds, Hawthorne draws a parallel between nature's delicate offerings and the fragility of human emotions.

One of the highlights of this collection is Hawthorne's ability to imbue even the most ordinary objects with layers of meaning. In "Buds and Bird Voices," for example, the simple blooming flowers become symbols of hope and the promise of new beginnings. Through his enchanting prose, Hawthorne breathes life into the natural world, emphasizing its profound influence on our human experiences.

The stories in "Mosses from an Old Manse" represent a departure from Hawthorne's more famous works, such as "The Scarlet Letter." Here, the author delves into the realms of fantasy and allegory, infusing each narrative with a sense of wonder and exploration. In "Buds and Bird Voices," he expertly intertwines the ethereal with the mundane, resulting in a reading experience that is both ethereal and introspective.

While the collection as a whole explores various themes and settings, "Buds and Bird Voices" remains a standout story that showcases the range of Hawthorne's literary prowess. This enchanting tale, with its delicate prose and delicately drawn characters, serves as a reminder of the power of longing, the transcendental beauty of nature, and the complexities of human relationships.

In conclusion, "Buds and Bird Voices" is a masterful piece of storytelling from Nathaniel Hawthorne. With its lyrical language, symbolic depth, and emotional resonance, this collection of tales from the "Mosses from an Old Manse" collection is a must-read for fans of the author and anyone seeking a captivating literary escape.

First Page:

Balmy Spring weeks later than we expected and months later than we longed for her comes at last to revive the moss on the roof and walls of our old mansion. She peeps brightly into my study window, inviting me to throw it open and create a summer atmosphere by the intermixture of her genial breath with the black and cheerless comfort of the stove. As the casement ascends, forth into infinite space fly the innumerable forms of thought or fancy that have kept me company in the retirement of this little chamber during the sluggish lapse of wintry weather; visions, gay, grotesque, and sad; pictures of real life, tinted with nature's homely gray and russet; scenes in dreamland, bedizened with rainbow hues which faded before they were well laid on, all these may vanish now, and leave me to mould a fresh existence out of sunshine, Brooding Meditation may flap her dusky wings and take her owl like Right, blinking amid the cheerfulness of noontide. Such companions befit the season of frosted window panes and crackling fires, when the blast howls through the black ash trees of our avenue and the drifting snow storm chokes up the wood paths and fills the highway from stone wall to stone wall... Continue reading book >>