Village Life in America


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.8 stars; 4 reviews)

A diary of a young school girl in Canandaigua, New York during the Civil War. (Summary by MaryElizabeth) (5 hr 39 min)

Chapters

Introduction - The Villages - The Villagers 7:56 Read by Mary-Elizabeth Arndt
1852.—Family Notes—Famous School—Girls—Hoop Skirts 10:49 Read by Mary-Elizabeth Arndt
1853.—Runaways—Bible Study—Essays—Catechism 12:35 Read by Mary-Elizabeth Arndt
1854.—Lake Picnic—Pyramid of Beauty—Governor Clark 28:27 Read by Mary-Elizabeth Arndt
1855.—Preachers—James and John—Votes for Women 13:33 Read by BettyB
1856.—the Fire—Sleighing and Prayer—Father’s Advice 34:41 Read by Jim Locke
1857.—Truants and Pickles—Candle Stories—the Snuffers 24:31 Read by Jim Locke
1858.—Tableaux and Charades—Spiritual Seance 15:53 Read by BettyB
1859.—E. M. Morse—Letter from the North Pole 18:01 Read by BettyB
1860.—Gymnastics—Troublesome Comforts 15:44 Read by Jim Locke
1861.—President Lincoln’s Inauguration—Civil War—School Enthusiasm 11:26 Read by Kalynda
1862.—Gough Lectures—President’s Call for Three Hundred Thousand Men—Mission Ze… 14:11 Read by BettyB
1863.—A Soldier’s Death—General M’Clellan’s Letter—President Lincoln’s Address … 25:28 Read by John
1864.—Grandfather Beals’ Death—Anna Graduates 28:01 Read by John
1865.—President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address—Fall of Richmond—Murder of L… 38:16 Read by Nicholas Hartunian
1866.—Freedman’s Fair—General Grant and Admiral Farragut Visit Canandaigua 186… 15:03 Read by Diana Schmidt
1872.—Grandmother Beals’ Death—Biography 1880.—Anna’s Marriage 25:23 Read by Linette Geisel

Reviews

I very much enjoyed this journal kept by a young woman, who grew up in the Fin…


(5 stars)

Most of the readers were good, or got better as they went along, Several had trouble pronouncing Canandaigua, which admittedly, is as hard to say as it is to spell. The first reader had an indistinct child-like voice, and read far too fast. Had to slow her down to 85% to make her tolerable! But I’d say this book is still worth listening to as a thoughtful young woman’s account of small and great events. And Caroline’s tales of sister Anna’s exploits are as funny now as in the 1850s and 60s. 11May2025