Oldtown Folks
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
1870's rural Massachusetts communities became famous as “Oldtown” in Harriet Beecher Stowe's 7th novel and national bestseller. Based partially on her husband Rev. Calvin Stowe's childhood memories and other old timers' recollections, this story of growing up in rural New England just after the American Revolution is one of the earliest examples of local color writing in New England. Young Horace Holyoke, the novel's narrator, describes life during the early Federalist years, capturing its many rich ideas, customs, and family lore. Villagers wrestle with loyalties to the fledgling government, and with the new secular rationalism provoked by the young nation’s Founders. Clashes between Puritanism, Calvinism, and Arminianism abound. This book helped with the depreciation of Calvinism in that time. Summary by Michele Fry (22 hr 46 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Oldtown Folks
A LibriVox Listener
As usual, a very enjoyable book by Ms Stowe. A tad difficult to get into, but once got into, well worth the trouble. Always interesting to me, the insight into the days of the earlier times, the hardships of the ‘foundling’ children, the toughness of the lower working class and the privileges of the upper class. The religious theme could prove tedious to many folk, but, in my opinion, I think our world of today needs moral guidance to sort it out. The readers are excellently suited to the script, apart from one chapter, but it could be the fact that the female readers are so good that the gentleman rather stands out. Their accents are interesting, but being used to varying accents, this did not distract from the reading. Thank you all for an enjoyable reading!
great book! mostly good readers!
Uncle Ell Weisgal
great book made even better with the chapters read by Michele Fry. she is truly gifted and I am lucky enough to get to listen to Ms Fry. thank y'all and thank you Librivox
Francie
sweet and enjoyable. h b stowe wrote a simple but well written book, here