Selected Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (Masterplots II: Women’s Literature Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Mary Eleanor Wilkins
- First Published: 1983
- Type of Work: Short stories
- Genres: Short fiction, Character study
- Subjects: Self-discovery, Love or romance, Marriage, Friendship, New England, Women’s issues, Death or dying, Working class, Small-town life, Loneliness, Old age or elderly people, Aging
Form and Content
These selected stories are from two of Freeman’s most popular and critically acclaimed collections, A Humble Romance (1887) and A New England Nun (1891). The stories focus on small-town New England life and the struggles of working-class people. Most of Freeman’s protagonists are women; they are usually older, often widowed or unmarried, but still vigorous and self-supporting. Both male and female characters vacillate between wanting solitude and freedom, and needing community and support.
Freeman’s characters display heroism within...
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