Some Summer Days in Iowa
Some Summer Days in Iowa is a collection of short stories by Frederick John Lazell that explore the lives and experiences of people living in rural Iowa during the early twentieth century. The book includes tales of love, loss, and everyday life set against the backdrop of the American Midwest.
By Frederick John Lazell · First published 1920 · Genre: Nature Writing, Travel, Non-Fiction · 3 chapters · 24,186 words
First lines
In the old woods road a soft haze hung, too subtle to see save where its delicate colorings were contrasted against the dark green leaves of the oaks beyond the fence. Not the tangible, vapory haze of early morning, but a tinted, ethereal haze, the visible effluence of the summer, the nimbus of its power and glory. From tall cord grasses arching over the side of the road, drawing water from the ditch in which their feet were bathed and breathing it into the air with the scent of their own greenness; from the transpiration of the trees, shrubs and vines, flowers and mosses and ferns, from billions of pores in acres of leaves it came streaming into the sunlight, vanishing quickly, yet ever renewed, as surely as the little brook where the grasses drank and the grackles fished for tadpoles and young frogs, was replenished by the hidden spring. Mingled with it and floating in it was another stream of life, the innumerable living organisms that make up the dust of the sunshine. Pink and white, black and yellow spores from the mushrooms over the fence in the pasture; pollen pushed from the glumes of the red top grasses and the lilac spires of the hedge nettle and germander by the roadside; shoals of spores from the mosses and ferns by the trees and in the swamp; all these life particles rose and floated in the haze, giving it tints and meanings strangely sweet.
What this Textopian page supports
Some Summer Days in Iowa is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frederick John Lazell, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frederick John Lazell
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Travel, Non-Fiction, Memoir
- Length: 24,186 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 106 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Some Summer Days in Iowa by Frederick John Lazell
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Some Summer Days in Iowa?
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- Where does Nature Writing first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Nature Writing — The book focuses on the natural landscapes and environment of Iowa during summer, emphasizing detailed observations of flora and fauna.
- Travel — The narrative explores different locations within Iowa, providing a sense of journey and exploration.
- Non-Fiction — The content is factual and based on real observations and experiences rather than fictional storytelling.
- Memoir — The book includes personal reflections and experiences of the author during his time in Iowa.
Tags
Iowa · summer · nature · landscape · travel · memoir · exploration · outdoors · seasons · reflection · adventure · scenery