The Van Dwellers: A Strenuous Quest for a Home

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Paine, Albert Bigelow, 1861-1937

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Van Dwellers: A Strenuous Quest for a Home" by Albert Bigelow Paine is a memoir written in the early 20th century. The narrative follows a couple, referred to as the author and the Little Woman, as they navigate the challenges of finding a home in New York City. Through a blend of humor and frustration, the book explores the absurdities of urban living, particularly the experience of flat-hunting, which reveals the couple's gradual adjustment to city life and their growing understanding of the complexities of apartment living. The opening of the memoir sets the stage for the couple's ill-fated initial experiences in New York as they search for a suitable flat. With no prior urban living experience, they struggle to understand the nuances of apartment listings and quickly discover the realities of cramped spaces and unwelcoming janitors. As they explore various potentially appealing options, the narrative highlights their naivety and the stark contrast between expectations and reality. This exploration of idealism versus practicality not only serves as a humorous commentary on domestic life but also hints at the broader themes of adaptation and resilience within the urban landscape. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

E-text prepared by Annie McGuire from digital material generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries (http://www.archive.org/details/americana)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 76.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2009-02-17