Idylls of the Bible

Name: Idylls of the Bible
Author: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

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About This Book

A series of lyrical and dramatic reworkings of biblical narratives and devotional poems that recast familiar scriptural episodes as intimate scenes and moral reflections. Scenes dramatize pivotal moments—an infant rescued on a river, exchanges between royal figures and nurturers—while other pieces offer compact moral parables and domestic monologues meditating on suffering, charity, and faith. Language alternates between theatrical dialogue, descriptive lyricism, and moral exhortation, emphasizing themes of compassion, maternal love, liberation, and personal conscience. The collection invites readers to reconsider sacred stories through emotive characterization and accessible moral verse.

About the Author

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911) was an influential African American poet, novelist, and activist known for her powerful literary contributions and advocacy for social justice. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she became one of the first African American women to publish a novel, "Iola Leroy; Or, Shadows Uplifted," which addresses themes of race and gender. Harper's poetry, including collections like "Atlanta Offering: Poems," reflects her deep commitment to abolitionism and women's rights. Throughout her life, she was a prominent speaker at anti-slavery and women's suffrage events, using her voice to champion equality and justice. Her works remain significant in American literature and the fight for civil rights.

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