During the 19th century, we observed an increase in literacy in families and reading then became real entertainment, as there were books for all tastes and levels.
Recently I went to the Big Town bookstore and came across some interesting artwork. From incredible adventures to innovative writings, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a little tour of my TBR list ;D
Let's start at the beginning!
Basically, I was just looking for an adventure story to pass the time on my next strolls with my mare, Hope.
I heard a group of men talking about a recently published novel "The Virginian" by Owen Wister. It's about the adventures of a lawless cowboy named Jeff, who arrives at the Sun Creek ranch and decides to follow his own rules to survive and understand the world he lives in. Between enemies to challenge and damsel to conquer, it's a book that grabs you and reads in one sitting.
There, I realized that a single book would not be enough in my saddlebag and so I continued my purchases on the good advice of the bookseller. I got a classic: “The Prairie” by James Fenimore Cooper.
This time, a much more composed atmosphere, a whole other setting and a completely different character. Falcon’s-eye is a lonely pioneer, in tune with nature, and the story describes his adventures in a sentimental, almost melancholic pen.
We often say “there is never 2 without 3”. After this genre turnaround, I could not stop my research and I got myself the pompous but famous autobiography of William F. Cody, who we all know as Buffalo Bill. If you want to read an almost burlesque story about a self-made legend, you will be served!
But I couldn't end my literary journey without rummaging through the shelves in search of an out-of-the-ordinary nugget. That's when I came across "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. I haven't finished it yet, but I can assure you that it takes some open-mindedness to appreciate it. It is said to be very popular in the East, especially in Massachusetts. Forget about horses, the desert adventure. What will make you shudder is the family dynamics of the characters and the questioning of the moral values of our time towards women!
It reminds me of another terribly captivating work that also broke the codes of our society and had a very big impact in the abolitionist movement of the mid-19th century. Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" describes the daily life of the Afro-American people, changing the perception of the “white society”. So it will be one of the points of tension that will trigger the Civil War, resulting in the abolition of slavery on December 6, 1865 in the United States.
Tell me in the comments what are your favorite books!
Next week will mark the end of this column of Wild West Art with a concept that has revolutionized the world: photography!
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