Margaret Smith's Journal

John Greenleaf WhittierProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 289K words
Chapters: 29

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Margaret Smith's Journal by John Greenleaf WhittierAuthor: Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 1, 2005

Editor's review

Margaret Smith's Journal is a narrative work in diary form by the nineteenth-century American poet Whittier, written in the persona of a colonial-era woman and recording daily life, personal dealings, and inner feelings. Its value lies not in intricate plotting but in its plain, restrained prose, which recreates the texture of life and the moral atmosphere of an era; readers can sense Whittier's command of language as he moves from poetry to prose, and his gentle concern for ordinary people's fates. The work is short and loosely structured, suitable as a sample for understanding early American literature and diary-form writing. When reading, pay attention to its historical context and the fictional nature of its narrative perspective; it should not be used as authentic historical source material. It suits slow reading in quiet moments, a few diary entries at a time, to appreciate the cumulative effect of tone and detail.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in everyday writing of the American colonial period
Literature enthusiasts studying diary and epistolary narrative
Readers who wish to encounter nineteenth-century English prose in short passages
Literary scholars interested in Whittier's non-poetic works

Not a good fit for

Readers of popular fiction expecting strong plot and dramatic conflict
Researchers seeking reliable historical source material
Beginning readers unaccustomed to the rhythm of nineteenth-century English

Reading tips

Read in sections by diary entry, pausing briefly after each to note tone and detail.
Read the preface or edition notes first to understand the work's fictional diary nature before entering the text.
Mark passages concerning daily life as you go, then review the cumulative effect of these details after finishing.
Read alongside a selection of Whittier's poetry to compare the language of his prose and verse.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a real diary?

No. It is a literary work by Whittier, written in diary form with a fictional female narrator; it is imaginative writing, not the diary record of a real person, and should not be cited directly as historical source material.

Can I understand it without a background in American history?

You can follow the general sense. The work centers on everyday people and events and does not depend heavily on plot; but some vocabulary and customs require background knowledge, so look up key terms as you read, or use an annotated edition for support.

Is it better to read straight through or selectively?

It is better read slowly in sections. The book consists of individual diary entries that stand relatively independently; you can read straight through in chronological order, or begin with passages that interest you and later fill in the overall thread.

Comments

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About the author

John Greenleaf Whittier Author · American · 1807–1892

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) was an American poet and abolitionist, a Quaker, and one of the nineteenth-century "Fireside Poets," born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He devoted himself early to the anti-slavery cause, edited several abolitionist newspapers, and gave voice to the movement in verse collected in volumes such as the Anti-Slavery Poems. His poetry ranges widely: the narrative poem Snow-Bound depicts New England country life and family memory in plain, homely language, while other works include nature poems, subjective and reminiscent pieces, religious poems, and legendary narrative poems such as The Tent on the Beach. His writing is simple and warm in feeling, marked by strong local color and moral concern. The library holds 44 of his works. Public information is limited, so this note gives only the main points of his life and writing.