Taken Alive
Tags
Summary
Two or three years ago the editor of "Lippincott's Magazine" asked me, with many others, to take part in the very interesting "experience meeting" begun in the pages of that enterprising periodical. I gave my consent without much thought of the effort involved, but as time passed, felt slight inclination to comply with the request. There seemed little to say of interest to the general public, and I was distinctly conscious of a certain sense of awkwardness in writing about myself at all. The question, Why should I? always confronted me. When this request was again repeated early in the current year, I resolved at least to keep my promise. This is done with less reluctance now, for the reason that floating through the press I meet with paragraphs concerning myself that are incorrect, and often absurdly untrue. These literary and personal notes, together with many questioning letters, indicate a curiosity I can partly satisfy.
Editor's review
Taken Alive is an essayistic work by Edward Payson Roe, originating from Lippincott's Magazine's invitation to the author to take part in an "experience meeting"-style writing project. In first person, the author candidly revisits his own experiences and feelings, with the composure and self-reflection characteristic of nineteenth-century American prose. Its value lies not in dramatic plot but in the psychological process of a writer facing an invitation to write about himself—the hesitation, the deflection, and the eventual putting to paper—which reads with genuine warmth. For readers who enjoy essays, memoirs, and behind-the-scenes writing stories, this book offers a gentle reading experience: watching a writer seek balance between self-exposure and reserve. It suits slow reading on a quiet afternoon or before bed, and also serves as supplementary material for studying late-nineteenth-century American periodical culture and nonfiction writing style. A reminder: it is not a plot-driven novel, and readers expecting strong storytelling may find the pace slow.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who enjoy nineteenth-century American essays and memoirs
- Readers interested in writers' psychology and the behind-the-scenes of creation
- Students studying old periodical culture and self-narrative writing
- Readers who prefer slow-paced, introspective prose
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting strong plot and fast-paced fiction
- Those seeking practical writing-technique guides
- Readers impatient with self-narrative essays
Reading tips
- Read the opening section on the work's origin first to understand the background of the invited writing before entering the main text.
- Read one or two sections at a time; don't rush—leave room for afterthought.
- Pair it with historical materials on nineteenth-century American periodicals to understand its writing context.
- After reading, note the author's trade-offs between self-disclosure and reserve as a reference for writing.
Contents
- Copyright information
- "A NATIVE AUTHOR CALLED ROE"
- TAKEN ALIVE
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- FOUND YET LOST
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- CHAPTER VI
- CHAPTER VII
- CHAPTER VIII
- CHAPTER IX
- CHAPTER X
- CHAPTER XI
- CHAPTER XII
- CHAPTER XIII
- CHAPTER XIV
- QUEEN OF SPADES
- AN UNEXPECTED RESULT
- A CHRISTMAS-EVE SUIT
- THREE THANKSGIVING KISSES
- SUSIE ROLLIFFE'S CHRISTMAS
- JEFF'S TREASURE
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CAUGHT ON THE EBB-TIDE
- CHRISTMAS EVE IN WAR TIMES
- A BRAVE LITTLE QUAKERESS
FAQ
Is this book a novel or an essay?
Sources indicate it stems from a magazine-invited experience-meeting writing project and belongs to the author's self-narrative essays or sketches rather than plot fiction. The book discusses personal experiences and feelings in first person, so expect nonfiction essays.
Can I read it without relevant background knowledge?
Yes. The text itself doesn't depend on specialized knowledge, though familiarity with nineteenth-century American magazine culture helps in understanding its origin. General readers can simply read it slowly as essays without extensive preparation.
Is it suitable as a writing model to learn from?
It is better suited for observing how a writer handles the hesitation and measure of "writing about oneself" than for providing systematic writing methods. If you want to study the tone and structure of self-narrative essays, it can serve as a reference text, but don't expect a checklist of techniques.
Comments
Find this book
This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Edward Payson Roe
Author · American · 1838–1888
Edward Payson Roe (1838–1888) was an American novelist, Presbyterian minister, and horticultural writer. Born in New York State in 1838 and died at Cornwall in 1888, he served as a military chaplain during the Civil War and later turned to writing. He first won fame with Barriers Burned Away and wrote some twenty novels, including Without a Home, most of them carrying moral and religious themes and often testing faith and character within their plots. He also wrote horticultural works such as Success with Small Fruits, reflecting his interest in practical farming. His novels and gardening books found wide readers in both Britain and America, and the library classifies him under inspirational growth, holding three of his works: Without a Home, Success with Small Fruits, and Taken Alive.
