When Shady Avenue was Shady Lane by Hervey Allen
The novel is a historical fiction account of the lives of several families living on Shady Lane in Pittsburgh during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It explores themes of social class, family dynamics, and personal relationships amidst the city's industrialization and urbanization. The narrative spans multiple generations, tracing the evolution of the community and its inhabitants as they navigate love, loss, and identity.
By Hervey Allen · First published 1948 · Genre: Nostalgia, Pastoral, Historical · 354 words
First lines
When Shady avenue was Shady lane, / Before the city fathers changed the name, / And cows stood switching flies beneath the trees, / And old-time gardens hummed with dusty bees, / And white ducks paddled in the summer rain; / Then everybody drove to church, / And Shady avenue was Shady lane.
We lived on Arabella street, that too / Is changed -- Kentucky avenue -- / And where the tollgate stood beside the spring, / The phlox and hollyhocks / Once flourished by the box / Where the gatekeeper sat with key and ring.
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Genres
- Nostalgia — The poem reflects on the past with a sense of longing and reminiscence, focusing on how things have changed over time.
- Pastoral — The imagery of cows, gardens, and natural elements like bees and ducks evokes a rural, pastoral setting.
- Historical — The poem references historical changes in place names and infrastructure, indicating a shift from past to present.
- Reflective — The contemplative tone and reflections on the passage of time and change suggest a reflective genre.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Small-Town Life · Family Drama · Social Commentary · American Literature · Regionalism · Nostalgia · Memoir · Autobiographical Elements · Personal Narrative · Local History
What this Textopian page supports
When Shady Avenue was Shady Lane is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hervey Allen, dated 1948 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hervey Allen
- Date: 1948 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nostalgia, Pastoral, Historical, Reflective, Elegy
- Length: 354 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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