The Magician's Show Box and Other Stories

Lydia Maria Child, Caroline Sturgis Tappan

Publisher: DigiCat

Summary

In "The Magician's Show Box, and Other Stories," the reader embarks on a literary journey through an enchanting collection of tales woven with magic, moral allegories, and the whimsical fabric of nineteenth-century American storytelling. The anthology embraces an array of styles, from quietly instructive narratives to fantastical vignettes, echoing the rich tapestry of the era's literary ethos. The significance of the collection lies in its ability to captivate and enlighten, offering tales that are profound yet accessible, and occasionally tinged with humor and whimsy—all culminating in a crescendo of stories that illuminate inherent truths about human nature. Edited by Lydia Maria Child and showcasing contributions from the likes of Caroline Sturgis Tappan, this anthology is a collaborative effort reflecting culturally significant movements of the time. Child, a staunch abolitionist and advocate for women's rights, lends her reformist spirit to the collection, while Tappan, known for her transcendental inclinations, adds depth with her metaphysical musings. The collective voices represent the convergence of transcendentalism, morality, and social critique, offering readers insights into the shared American consciousness and the burgeoning literary movements of the nineteenth century. "The Magician's Show Box, and Other Stories" provides readers a rare opportunity to traverse a multifaceted landscape of nineteenth-century thought and imagination. This collection serves not just as an anthology but as a lens through which to explore varied perspectives and dialogues of its time. Whether seeking the educational benefits afforded by these historical narratives, or simply desiring to engage with diverse storytelling traditions, readers will find themselves drawn into a splendid dialogue that bridges the past with the present.

Available since: 09/16/2022.

Print length: 106 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Landlady - A rare benevolent...

Elinor Mordaunt

Evelyn May Clowes was born on 7th May 1872 in Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire.

Growing up in genteel circumstances, her early childhood was spent at Charlton Down House near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and her teenage years near Heythrop in the Cotswolds.

She was educated at home by governesses, excelling at German, Latin, Greek, shorthand, landscape painting, and fabric and wallpaper design.

In 1897 she went to Mauritius as companion to her cousin Caroline and in 1898 married Maurice Wilhemn Wiehe, the owner of a sugar plantation. She gave birth to two stillborn children. After a few years of marriage, she found life difficult and returned to England. Shortly afterwards she went by herself to Australia, arriving in June 1902 and gave birth to a son a few months later.

She lived in Melbourne for about eight years. To earn a living she took on a wide and varied range of jobs; she edited a woman's fashion paper, wrote short stories and articles, made blouses, designed embroideries, tilled gardens, acted as a housekeeper, and did other artistic work. Her health was not strong, but she undertook any kind of work which would provide a living for herself and her infant son. This gained her an experience of life which was readily put to use in her literary works.

Her first book, ‘The Garden of Contentment’, was published in 1902 under her pen-name Elinor Mordaunt. It was the first of many works that covered fiction, short stories, travel and autobiography.

She changed her name by deed poll to Evelyn May Mordaunt on 1st July 1915 and gained a further reputation as a writer of short stories for magazines which display both her humour and sense of tragedy. Travel was always high on her priority and the experiences used not only for pleasure but in her writings and, as travel books, ideas in themselves.

On 27th January 1933 at Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, she married a retired barrister from Gloucestershire. In her own words, the marriage ‘ended in tragedy.’

Elinor Mordaunt died on 25th June 1942 at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford. She was 70.

Show book

The Man Who Laughs

Victor Hugo

A baby boy's face is carved into a permanent grin by a cruel king's decree. Left for dead, Gwynplaine finds solace with a traveling showman and a blind girl who sees him for who he truly is. Thrust into the spotlight, Gwynplaine must choose between a life of wealth fueled by his disfigurement or fight for a world that sees beyond the surface.

Show book

The Devil in the Belfry

Edgar Allen Poe

A quiet unchanging town gets a visit from a most peculiar and, we come to find out, dastardly character.

Show book

Bartleby The Scrivener - A Story...

Herman Melville

Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street is a novella by the American novelist Herman Melville (1819–1891). It first appeared anonymously in two parts in the November and December 1853 editions of Putnam's Magazine, and was reprinted with minor textual alterations in his The Piazza Tales in 1856. 
 
Among Melville's best-known works are Moby-Dick; Typee , a romanticized account of his experiences in Polynesia; and Billy Budd, Sailor, a posthumously published novella. Although his reputation was not high at the time of his death, the 1919 centennial of his birth was the starting point of a Melville revival, and Moby-Dick grew to be considered one of the great American novels. 
 
During his last years, he privately published two volumes of poetry, and left one volume unpublished. The novella Billy Budd was left unfinished at his death, but was published posthumously in 1924. Melville died from cardiovascular disease in 1891.

Show book

Seven Keys to Baldpate

George M. Cohan

Introducing the captivating digital audiobook version of "Seven Keys to Baldpate," the timeless play by the legendary George M. Cohan!  
 
Unlock a world of suspense, mystery, and intrigue as you immerse yourself in this thrilling tale. With our high-quality audio production, you'll be transported to the enigmatic Baldpate Inn, where secrets lurk around every corner. 
 
Listen as the masterful storytelling of George M. Cohan unfolds, weaving a web of unexpected twists and turns. Lose yourself in the richly crafted characters and feel the tension mount as they chase after the elusive seven keys that hold the inn's secrets. 
 
The digital audiobook version adds an extra layer of depth to the experience, as talented narrators breathe life into the dialogue and expertly convey the play's emotions. You'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, eagerly following the characters on their thrilling journey.

Show book

A Country Doctor

Franz Kafka

"A Country Doctor"  is a short story written in 1917 by Franz Kafka. It was first published in the collection of short stories of the same title. In the story, a country doctor makes an emergency visit to a sick patient on a winter night. The doctor faces absurd, surreal predicaments that pull him along and finally doom him.A Country Doctor is perhaps Kafka's most fantastical or surreal work. It takes its cue from Gothic literature – it has echoes of Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne – and analysing and identifying the core 'meaning' of the story has proved tricky. Even when set aside Kafka's other work, 'A Country Doctor' remains particularly cryptic and opaque.

Show book