The River's Children: An Idyl of the Mississippi

Name: The River's Children: An Idyl of the Mississippi
Author: Ruth McEnery Stuart

By Ruth McEnery Stuart

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American Literature

About This Book

A sequence of vignettes portrays life along the Mississippi, moving between scenes of flood threat, levee repair, and river travel. The prose details communal efforts to hold back rising water, the makeshift materials and labor routines used in emergencies, and the songs and rhythms that accompany work. Interlaced episodes depict plantation entertainments and landing festivities, with music, dancing, and abundant food shaping social interaction. Dialectal lyrics and comic or sentimental sketches provide local color and character portraits while exploring themes of resilience, celebration, and the ongoing contest between human industry and the river's power.

About the Author

Ruth McEnery Stuart

Ruth McEnery Stuart was an American author known for her contributions to children's literature and regional storytelling. Her works often reflect the culture and spirit of the American South, blending humor with poignant themes. Among her notable titles is "Gobolinks; or, Shadow Pictures for Young and Old," which showcases her imaginative storytelling. Stuart's writing is characterized by its warmth and accessibility, making her stories beloved by both young readers and adults. In addition to her children's books, she wrote sketches and tales that capture the essence of life along the Mississippi River, as seen in "The River's Children: An Idyl of the Mississippi."