The Wide, Wide World (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Nineteenth-Century Tale of Separation, Piety, and a Young Girl's Moral Coming of AgeBy Susan Warner
Length28h 23m
About this audiobook
The Wide, Wide World follows young Ellen Montgomery, whose separation from her ailing mother initiates a long education in grief, duty, piety, and moral self-command. Published in 1850, the novel helped define American domestic fiction, blending sentimental intensity with evangelical seriousness. Its episodic structure, tender pathos, and emphasis on inward discipline place it within the nineteenth-century tradition of religious bildungsroman, while its vivid scenes of household labor, affection, and trial reveal the cultural power of the feminine sphere. Susan Warner, writing under the name Elizabeth Wetherell, drew upon both personal hardship and the Protestant devotional culture of her time. After her family suffered financial reversals, Warner turned to authorship as a means of support. Her intimate knowledge of domestic instability, religious consolation, and women's constrained opportunities informs the novel's emotional authority and its sustained meditation on dependence, endurance, and spiritual growth. This book is recommended for readers interested in nineteenth-century American literature, women's writing, and the history of popular religious fiction. Its moral earnestness may feel distant to modern tastes, but its psychological delicacy and cultural significance remain deeply rewarding.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.4 (494)
Includes Amazon, Goodreads
GenreChristian & Inspirational, General Fiction
Length28 hrs 23 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateMay 11, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Wide, Wide World (Annotated)
26Chapter XXII
2Introduction
27Chapter XXIII
3Synopsis
28Chapter XXIV
4Historical Context
29Chapter XXV
5Chapter I
30Chapter XXVI
Show all chaptersShow less
6Chapter II
31Chapter XXVII
7Chapter III
32Chapter XXVIII
8Chapter IV
33Chapter XXIX
9Chapter V
34Chapter XXX
10Chapter VI
35Chapter XXXI
11Chapter VII
36Chapter XXXII
12Chapter VIII
37Chapter XXXIII
13Chapter IX
38Chapter XXXIV
14Chapter X
39Chapter XXXV
15Chapter XI
40Chapter XXXVI
16Chapter XII
41Chapter XXXVII
17Chapter XIII
42Chapter XXXVIII
18Chapter XIV
43Chapter XXXIX
19Chapter XV
44Chapter XL
20Chapter XVI
45Chapter XLI
21Chapter XVII
46Chapter XLII
22Chapter XVIII
47Chapter XLIII
23Chapter XIX
48Chapter XLIV
24Chapter XX
49Chapter XLV
25Chapter XXI
50Chapter XLVI
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