Showing results by author "Gene Stratton-Porter" in All Categories

Elnora Comstock lives with her widowed mother at the edge of Limberlost Swamp. Her mother is harsh and critical of her daughter, but Elnora is a loving girl who befriends all creatures. She is especially drawn to the beautiful moths that flutter through the trees in Limberlost. Although Elnora longs to go to high school, she has no money to pay for tuition and books. When her cruel mother refuses to help, all seems lost, until Elnora learns she can sell the rare insects she collects. Still, her journey through high school and college will be full of challenges - and surprises.

Freckles, a plucky young man, lands a job as a watchman for a lumber company that logs timber in a mysterious forest swamp called the Limberlost.

Jamie MacFarlane has returned a hero from the Great War but with a stubborn chest wound. The government has sent him to their new thermal springs hospital in California “where it was hoped that the brilliant sunshine, the fruits, and the clean air, the eternal summer of a beneficent land” would heal him. But nothing has worked and with his parents now deceased and no one to care for him, it seems the next step is a camp rife with tuberculosis. Realizing this, Jamie begins his Great Adventure on foot toward the ocean.

Adam Bates, the Land King of Hartley, Indiana, rules his 16 children with a firm hand and a tight purse. All work tirelessly on the family farm until the sons, at 21, are given 200 acres of land with a house and barn (they pay the taxes while their father holds the deeds). The daughters, at 18, get a term at Normal School to train as schoolteachers, a position they hold until they marry. Kate, the youngest, has always bristled at her father's preference for his sons but eagerly awaits her chance for further education. Her father has other plans.

Scotch-Irish immigrants Jimmy Malone and Dannie MacNous are partners in an earlier Indiana trapping and fishing enterprise; a picture of life and relationships in conflict, with each partner in love with the same woman.

This is the charming story of David Langston, a young man in search of the woman of his dreams. She came to him in a vision and he knows he must find her.

Michael “Mickey” O’Halloran is no stranger to hardship. As an orphaned newsboy in the early 1900s, every day brings struggle. However, his kindness, faith, love, and optimism define his character and shine so brightly that he leaves an incredible impact on those around him. After taking in a crippled girl in need, Mickey works even harder to prepare a home, provide for their needs, and to bring joy and hope to their dark times.

Amaryllis, a five-year-old child who has been abandoned by her wealthy parents to the care of paid staff, runs away. Her plan is to find a home where someone will love her. She meets a lonely older boy who teaches her games, plays his violin for her, and introduces her to the glorious wonders of his garden. His sympathy and kindness bring comfort to her hungry heart. Their idyllic two days end when Amaryllis is discovered but she never forgets the boy. This is a sentimental tale of growing up, and of love lost and found again.

Dive into the enchanting world of Harvester, a romantic novel by Gene Stratton-Porter that beautifully weaves together a love for nature, strong moral values, and an engaging storyline. Follow the journey of a young man who lives in the serene countryside with his loyal dog and a menagerie of animals, cultivating herbs for local medical suppliers. One fateful evening, he envisions his Dream Girl, sparking a quest that leads him to discover not just her, but himself. Join him on this heartfelt adventure filled with love, longing, and the magic of the natural world.

In a desperate bid for freedom from a tuberculosis sanatorium, a young soldier escapes to a breathtaking bee garden by the sea. Here, among the buzzing hives and an eclectic mix of companions, he embarks on a transformative journey, learning about love, life, and the art of beekeeping, despite his initial ignorance. (summary by Czandra)

In the heart of the Midwest, 26-year-old David Langston, affectionately known as the Harvester, leads a simple life alongside his loyal dog. Devoted to cultivating and harvesting trees, plants, and herbs, David sells his bounty as medicinal ingredients to pharmaceutical companies. Each spring, when the first bluebird returns, he turns to his canine companion for guidance on whether to continue his bachelor lifestyle or seek a wife. This year, for the first time in six years, the dog suggests he should pursue love. Reluctantly, David embraces this advice, and that night, a vivid vision of a ...

"The Harvester" is a gentle love story, made up of a fondness for nature, high moral ideals and an engaging plot. It is the story of young David Langston, who lives in the countryside with his dog, growing medicinal herbs he then sells in the city. One evening, he has a vision of his Dream Girl and goes searching for her, and in so doing changes the course of his life forever.

This is a captivating, good-humored look at family life in a small farming community in Indiana in the early 1900s.

This is the sequel to Freckles - the moving story of a young girl whose kindness and wholesome philosophy brightens the lives of everyone she meets.

In Daughter of the Land, we follow the journey of Kate Bates, one of sixteen siblings, as she seeks the freedom and life that has long been out of reach. With dreams of a loving husband, a family, and a thriving farm, Kate’s pursuit of independence sets off a chain of events that ripple through her world. This poignant tale explores the themes of love and forgiveness amidst the backdrop of brokenness, revealing how faith can illuminate even the darkest valleys. Join Kate as she discovers that through God’s grace, all things can indeed work together for good. - Summary by Patience Charles

First published in 1909, A Girl of the Limberlost is a novel by American writer and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. This classic of Indiana literature is a sequel to Stratton-Porter's earlier novel Freckles. Wholesome, sensible, and beautiful, the heroine, Elnora, is also compassionate, self-reliant, and intelligent. Neglected by her mother, Elnora reaches through this hardship toward education, friendship, and love. There are no shortcuts and her hard work brings joy to herself and all those she loves.

This novel, set in 1920s California, tells the tale of Linda Strong who shares her father’s love for the beauty of nature in California. When her parents suddenly pass away, she is left with her sister Eileen, a huge house, and much wealth. Eileen goes on a spending spree, dissipating the inheritance at an alarming pace. When Linda eventually finds out, she meets with their banker and finds a way to earn money in a manner that she enjoys. The narrative includes romance, murder, and delightful descriptions of the state’s fauna and flora.

Gene Stratton-Porter (August 17, 1863 - December 6, 1924) was a pioneering American author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer, with a passion for the enchanting birds and moths of the rapidly disappearing wetlands in the lower Great Lakes Basin. The Limberlost and Wildflower Woods of northeastern Indiana served as both her inspiration and laboratory, fueling her stories, novels, essays, photography, and films. Renowned for her artistic talents, Stratton-Porter is celebrated as one of the first female authors to advocate for conservation, particularly championing the Limberlost Swamp. While...

Dive into the enchanting world of The Song of the Cardinal, where a spirited male Cardinal makes his home in a tree beside a farmer and his wife. As the Cardinal serenades the skies in search of a mate, the couple finds themselves captivated by his vibrant antics. His joyful melodies not only lead him to love but also breathe new life into the farmer and his wifes marriage. Experience this heartwarming parallel love story that is sure to lift your spirits and leave you feeling uplifted! (Summary by peppersnoodles93)

Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are two of Gene Stratton Porter's most famous novels. Set primarily in the Limberlost Swamp of Indiana, USA, Freckles follows the story of Freckles, a lame orphan whose innate character rises above his circumstances. A Girl of the Limberlost is the story of Elnora, blamed for her father's death by her mother, who nevertheless meets every challenge that comes her way with admirable resilience.