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Old Town Folks by Harriet Beecher Stowe, published by Fields, Osgood & Co. in Boston in 1869, is a richly nostalgic and semi-autobiographical novel that evokes the moral and spiritual life of early New England. Set in the fictional "Oldtown," based on Stowe's own Natick, Massachusetts, the story is narrated by Horace Holyoke, who recounts his youth amid a tightly knit Puritan community shaped by faith, family, and frontier values. Through vivid character sketches, homely humor, and sharp social observation, Stowe recreates the customs, dialects, and domestic rhythms of an earlier America, portraying a world where theology, gossip, and daily toil coexist in gentle tension.
Unlike her earlier reformist novels, Old Town Folks focuses on cultural memory rather than moral crusade, blending folklore, theology, and personal recollection into a reflective portrait of a vanishing way of life. Stowe's prose is at once affectionate and discerning, balancing sentiment with wit and philosophical depth. This 1869 first edition marks one of her most personal and literary achievements, appealing strongly to collectors of early American fiction, admirers of New England heritage, and readers interested in Stowe's broader body of work beyond Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (1811 - 1896) was an American author and abolitionist. She came from the religious Beecher family and wrote the popular novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), which depicts the harsh conditions experienced by enslaved African Americans. The book reached an audience of millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and in Great Britain, energizing anti-slavery forces in the American North, while provoking widespread anger in the South. Stowe wrote 30 books, including novels, three travel memoirs, and collections of articles and letters. She was influential both for her writings as well as for her public stances and debates on social issues of the day."
Light wear and fading to covers and particularly LHS of spine as shown. Front hinge paper split however covers are firm and structural integrity is excellent. There are no loose pages. Pages are particularly clean and well presented. Very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 19.5cm x 13.5cm x 3.5cm - 608 Pages
