| Author |
Morford, Henry, 1823-1881 |
| Title |
The Coward: A Novel of Society and the Field in 1863
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 59.8 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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| Credits |
E-text prepared by David Edwards, Josephine Paolucci, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries (http://www.archive.org/details/americana)
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| Summary |
"The Coward: A Novel of Society and the Field in 1863" by Henry Morford is a historical novel written in the mid-19th century. The story is set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, particularly around the time leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg. The narrative focuses on the emotional and moral struggles of Carlton Brand, a man grappling with cowardice and societal expectations, alongside the experiences of two prominent young women in his life, Margaret Hayley and Elsie Brand. At the start of the book, readers are introduced to a serene suburban setting in West Philadelphia, where the two young women share a moment of closeness on a sunny June morning. Their dialogue reveals deep themes of love, courage, and the expectation of manhood in the face of war. A powerful contrast emerges through their reflections on Carlton, who has not enlisted, with Margaret expressing her contempt for his perceived cowardice, while Elsie is more sympathetic. As the conversation unfolds, the tension around the expectations of bravery and personal integrity becomes palpable, foreshadowing the challenges and emotional turmoil each character will face as the war looms closer, particularly for Carlton, who is later revealed to struggle with his own sense of honor and self-worth. The opening sets the stage for a dramatic exploration of courage, love, and the societal pressures faced by individuals in tumultuous times. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
36644 |
| Release Date |
Jul 6, 2011 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
86 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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