Oldtown Folks
by Harriet Beecher STOWE (1811 - 1896)
1870's rural Massachusetts communities became famous as “Oldtown” in Harriet Beecher Stowe's 7th novel and national bestseller. Based partially on her husband Rev. Calvin Stowe's childhood memories and other old timers' recollections, this story of growing up in rural New England just after the American Revolution is one of the earliest examples of local color writing in New England. Young Horace Holyoke, the novel's narrator, describes life during the early Federalist years, capturing its many rich ideas, customs, and family lore. Villagers wrestle with loyalties to the fledgling government, and with the new secular rationalism provoked by the young nation’s Founders. Clashes between Puritanism, Calvinism, and Arminianism abound. This book helped with the depreciation of Calvinism in that time. Summary by Michele Fry
Listen next episodes of
Oldtown Folks:
Ch.19 Miss Mehitable's Letter, and the Reply, Giving Further Hints of the Story ,
Ch.20 Miss Asphyxia Goes In Pursuit, and my Grandmother Gives Her Views on Education ,
Ch.21 What is to be Done with the Boy? ,
Ch.22 Daily Living In Old Town ,
Ch.23 We Take a Step Up In The World ,
Ch.24 We Behold Grandeur ,
Ch.25 Easter Sunday ,
Ch.26 What "Our Folks" Said At Oldtown ,
Ch.27 How We Kept Thanksgiving At Oldtown ,
Ch.28 The Raid On Oldtown, And Uncle Fliakim's Bravery ,
Ch.29 My Grandmother's Blue Book ,
Ch.30 We Begin To Be Grown-Up People ,
Ch.31 What Shall We Do With Tina? ,
Ch.32 The Journey To Cloudland ,
Ch.33 School-Life in Cloudland ,
Ch.34 Our Minister in Cloudland ,
Ch.35 The Revival Of Religion ,
Ch.36 After The Revival ,
Ch.37 The Minister's Wood-Spell ,
Ch.38 Ellery Davenport ,
Ch.39 Last Days In Cloudland ,
Ch.40 We Enter College ,
Ch.41 Night Talks ,
Ch.42 Spring Vacation At Oldtown ,
Ch.43 What Our Folks Thought About It ,
Ch.44 Marriage Preparations ,
Ch.45 Wedding Bells ,
Ch.46 Wedding After-Talks At Oldtown ,
Ch.47 Behind The Curtain ,
Ch.48 Tina's Solution ,
Ch.49 What Came Of It ,
Ch.50 The Last Chapter