Stories of a Western Town

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Stories of a Western Town" by Octave Thanet is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The narratives take place in a small Western town and revolve around various characters and their everyday lives, exploring themes such as personal struggles, human relationships, and social dynamics. The first story introduces us to Kurt Lieders, an aging cabinetmaker dealing with existential despair and the impact of his life choices on his wife, Thekla. The opening of the book presents a poignant scene where Thekla Lieders rushes anxiously to seek help for her husband, who has attempted suicide yet again. As she arrives at the home of Mrs. Olsen, Thekla's emotional turmoil is palpable, revealing the tension in her marriage. Through vivid descriptions and dialogues, we learn about Kurt's struggles with his craft, his relationships with younger workers, and the deep sense of loss he experiences following the death of his mentor. This heartbreaking situation sets the stage for themes of mental health, companionship, and the quest for redemption that continue throughout the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

The besetment of Kurt Lieders

The face of failure

Tommy and Thomas

Mother Emeritus

An assisted providence

Harry Lossing.

Credits:

Produced by Judy Boss, and David Widger

Notes:

Reading ease score: 79.4 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2001-12-01