Ruth Arnold : or, The country cousin by Lucy Byerley
"Ruth Arnold" by Lucy Byerley is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows Ruth Arnold, a spirited 14-year-old girl living in the English countryside, as she transitions from a simple rural life to the more complex social dynamics of city life when she is invited to spend her holidays with her wealthy relatives at the sea-side. The narrative explores themes of class, identity, and the trials of growing
up as Ruth navigates her feelings of longing, insecurity, and the desire for knowledge and belonging. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Ruth as she reflects on her life after a school term and receives a letter inviting her to visit her cousin Julia for the summer. While initially content with her rustic routine, Ruth grapples with feelings of dissatisfaction and curiosity about the world beyond her quiet village. As she helps around the farm, she is confronted with the monotony of her daily tasks and dreams of a different life, leading her to contemplate escaping her provincial existence. The opening establishes a juxtaposition between Ruth's humble, hardworking background and the allure of the privileged lifestyle she is about to experience, setting the stage for her emotional and educational journey ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Byerley, Lucy |
|---|---|
| Title | Ruth Arnold : or, The country cousin |
| Note | Reading ease score: 74.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Credits | E-text prepared by David Clarke, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres |
| Subject | Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Girls -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Cousins -- Juvenile fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 18777 |
| Release Date | Jul 7, 2006 |
| Most Recently Updated | Jan 1, 2021 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 126 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
