Miss Dangerlie's Roses by Thomas Nelson Page

Name: Miss Dangerlie's Roses
Author: Thomas Nelson Page

The narrative follows Henry Floyd, a man marked by his past and societal perceptions. Known for his eccentricity, he is a recluse who has endured significant hardships, including the loss of his mother and a failed romantic pursuit of a beautiful woman who ultimately marries for wealth. After her death, Floyd becomes increasingly isolated, drifting through life without emotional connection, despite his intellectual prowess and talent as a writer and inventor. His life takes a turn when he meets Sarah Dangerlie at a reception. Their initial interaction sparks a profound emotional awakening in Floyd, reminiscent of his earlier love but distinct in its depth and potential for mutual understanding. As he becomes enamored with her, he begins to emerge from his self-imposed isolation, finding renewed purpose in his work and social interactions. Floyd's affection for Sarah grows, and he finds solace in their shared interests and values. However, societal pressures and rumors about her engagement to another man, Router, complicate their relationship. Despite this, Floyd remains steadfast in his admiration for Sarah, often reflecting on the beauty of old-fashioned roses, which symbolize his feelings for her. As their connection deepens, Floyd's health improves, and he becomes more active in advocating for the poor, driven by a desire to make a difference. However, the revelation of Sarah's engagement to Router shatters his hopes. In response, Floyd writes a letter expressing his understanding and lack of blame towards her, signifying his emotional resilience despite the heartbreak. The story concludes with Floyd's act of kindness towards a destitute woman, offering her roses and money, symbolizing his enduring compassion and the impact of his love for Sarah, even in the face of personal loss. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, societal expectations, and the quest for meaning in a world that often overlooks the profound connections between individuals.

By Thomas Nelson Page · First published 1910 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama · 6,766 words

First lines

Henry Floyd was a crank, at least so many people said; a few thought / he was a wonderful person: these were mostly children, old women, and / people not in the directory, and persons not in the directory do not / count for much. He was in fact a singular fellow. It was all natural / enough to him; he was just like what he believed his father had been, / his father of whom his mother used to tell him, and whom he remembered / so vaguely except when he had suddenly loomed up in his uniform at the / head of his company, when they went away on that march from which he / had never returned. He meant to be like him, if he was not, and he / remembered all that his mother had told him of his gentleness, his high / courtesy, his faithfulness, his devotion to duty, his unselfishness. / So it was all natural enough to Floyd to be as he was. But a man can / no more tell whether or not he is a crank than he can tell how old he / looks. He was, however, without doubt, different in certain ways from / most people. This his friends admitted. Some said he was old-fashioned; / some that he was "old-timey"; some that he was unpractical, the shades / of criticism ranging up to those saying he was a fool. This did not mean / intellectually, for none denied his intellect. He drove a virile pen, / and had an epigrammatic tongue. He had had a hard time. He had borne the / yoke in his youth. This, we have strong authority for saying, is good / for a man; but it leaves its mark upon him. He had been desperately / poor. He had not minded that except for his mother, and he had approved / of her giving up every cent to meet the old security debts. It had cut / him off from his college education; but he had worked till he was a / better scholar than he might have been had he gone to college. He had / kept his mother comfortable as long as she lived, and then had put up / a monument over her in the old churchyard, as he had done before to his / father's memory.

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Miss Dangerlie's Roses is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Nelson Page, dated 1910 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Thomas Nelson Page
Date: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Length: 6,766 words
Structure: 1 section, 181 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for Miss Dangerlie's Roses by Thomas Nelson Page
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Genres

Literary Fiction — The book explores deep emotional themes, character development, and societal commentary, typical of literary fiction.
Romance — The central plot revolves around love, longing, and relationships, particularly the protagonist's feelings for Miss Dangerlie.
Drama — The narrative contains intense emotional conflicts and character struggles, characteristic of dramatic literature.
Historical Fiction — The setting and character backgrounds reflect historical elements, particularly in relation to societal norms and values.