Dec 22, 2009

The Last Puritan | The Last Puritan

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...

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The Last Puritan | The Last Puritan

At a glance:

Places Discussed

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