The Last Puritan (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: George Santayana
- First Published: 1935
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: Early twentieth century
- Genres: Long fiction, Social realism
- Subjects: Family or family life, Suicide, Twentieth century, Marriage, Alienation, New England, College life, Conservatism, Duty, Illegitimacy, World War I, Soldiers
- Locales: Connecticut, Boston, MA, New England
Places Discussed
*New England. Northeastern region of the United States whose first English settlers built on Protestant Puritanism. A product of two worlds, Puritanism famished in the Old World and flourished in New England. Oliver Alden, Santayana’s protagonist in this novel, like Santayana himself, is torn between two societies—America, “the greatest of opportunities” and “the worst of influences,” and Europe, which is “always dying gently, cheerfully.” It is the contrast of productive diligence and delightful decadence. The soul of the author, like that of...
[The entire page is 974 words long]
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