The Two Vanrevels

Booth TarkingtonJan 2016

3.6

Word count: 75K words
Chapters: 21

Summary

It was long ago in the days when men sighed when they fell in love when people danced by candle and lamp, and did dance, too, instead of solemnly gliding about in that mellow time so long ago, when the young were romantic and summer was roses and wine, old Carewe brought his lovely daughter home from the convent to wreck the hearts of the youth of Rouen. That was not a far journey only an afternoon's drive through the woods and by the river, in an April, long ago Miss Betty's harp carefully strapped behind the great lumbering carriage, her guitar on the front seat, half-buried under a mound of bouquets and oddly shaped little bundles, farewell gifts of her comrades and the good Sisters. In her left hand she clutched a small lace handkerchief, with which she now and then touched her eyes, brimmed with the parting from Sister Cecilia, Sister Mary Bazilede, the old stone steps and all the g

Editor's review

The Two Vanrevels is a love story steeped in a sense of the old days, in which Booth Tarkington, with a delicate and faintly playful touch, paints a small-town world not yet disturbed by the pace of modern life. The story begins when old Carewe brings his daughter Betty home from the convent to Rouen, and dances, candlelight, harps and the hearts of the young form the backdrop of the narrative. Its value lies not in violent conflict of plot but in the patient unfolding of character psychology and period atmosphere; readers can feel that romantic nostalgia of "summer like roses and wine." Tarkington excels at burying gentle satire of human weakness beneath a light surface, so that the book reads with the pleasure of a romance and no small literary interest. It suits reading in quiet afternoons or in instalments before sleep; there is no need to hurry after plot, but rather to savour the language and scenes. For readers who enjoy classical English romance and are curious about early twentieth-century American popular fiction, it is a comfortable reading experience; those expecting fast pace or strong suspense may find it slow.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy classical English romance and slow-paced narrative
Readers interested in early twentieth-century American popular fiction and its depiction of manners
Readers who wish to savour language and period atmosphere in light reading
Students accustomed to reading English originals who want to broaden their knowledge of classic authors' works

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong plot conflict and fast-paced progression
Readers unaccustomed to old-fashioned English narrative style who may give up midway
Readers hoping for profound social critique rather than romantic manners

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters to get a sense of the narrative tone; continue if you like it, and don't force yourself to read quickly.
Treat scenes such as the dance and the homecoming as independent pictures to enjoy, and note the psychological details of the characters.
It may help to learn something about early twentieth-century small-town American life to understand the logic of the characters' behaviour.
After finishing, look back at the opening scene descriptions to appreciate how the author uses atmosphere to prepare for the whole novel.

Copyright information
CHAPTER I. A Cat Can Do More than Look at a King
CHAPTER II. Surviving Evils of the Reign of Terror
CHAPTER III. The Rogue's Gallery of a Father Should be Exhib
CHAPTER IV. "But Spare Your Country's Flag"
CHAPTER V. Nero not the Last Violinist of his Kind
CHAPTER VI. The Ever Unpractical Feminine
CHAPTER VII. The Comedian
CHAPTER VIII. A Tale of a Political Difference
CHAPTER IX. The Rule of the Regent
CHAPTER X. Echoes of a Serenade
CHAPTER XI. A Voice in a Garden
CHAPTER XII. The Room in the Cupola
CHAPTER XIII. The Tocsin
CHAPTER XIV. The Firm of Gray and Vanrevel
CHAPTER XV. When June Came
CHAPTER XVI. "Those Endearing Young Charms"
CHAPTER XVII. The Price of Silence
CHAPTER XVIII. The Uniform
CHAPTER XIX. The Flag Goes Marching By
CHAPTER XX. "Goodby"

FAQ

How difficult is this book to read, and is it suitable as an introduction to reading English originals?

The language belongs to the popular fiction style of the early twentieth century, with longer sentences and much description; it is not an extremely easy reader. Readers with some foundation in English reading and a familiarity with old-fashioned narrative style will find it smoother; if you are just starting to read originals, it is advisable to try one or two chapters first before deciding.

Is the main storyline love or social manners?

The main line centres on the emotional entanglements between Betty and the local young men after her return home, but the author also devotes considerable space to small-town social life, dances and family relations, so love and manners are interwoven. It is closer to a novel of manners and romance than to pure melodrama.

Is it better to read in one sitting or in instalments?

Since the plot moves slowly and the emphasis is on atmosphere and psychology, reading in instalments is more suitable. Reading one or two chapters at a time and leaving room to savour the language and scenes makes it easier to appreciate the gentle satire and nostalgia in the author's tone than reading it all at once.

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

Booth Tarkington Author

Booth Tarkington was an American novelist. Public information about him is limited, and basic details such as his dates of birth and death and his nationality are not currently available in our database. Judging from the works on hand, his writing often follows young people's coming-of-age experiences, focusing on how characters develop their personalities and make life choices within family, school, and social settings. His representative work Ramsey Milholland centers on the education and growth of the young man of the same name, while The Two Vanrevels interweaves personal feelings with social relationships. His works are plain in language and clear in narrative, and he is skilled at portraying characters' psychology through everyday details, with a gentle tone of observation and irony. Our collection includes two of his works, commonly categorized as inspirational coming-of-age fiction, suggesting that his writing is representative in this genre.