Stories in Light and Shadow by Bret Harte
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"Stories in Light and Shadow" by Bret Harte is a collection of short stories likely written in the late 19th century. The selected opening narrative introduces a whimsical look at life in a German town called Schlachtstadt, narrated through the lens of the American consul stationed there, who encounters unique characters and scenarios involving military mishaps and social interactions. The story hints at themes of identity, culture clash, and the absurdity found
in bureaucratic processes wrapped in humor. The opening of the collection features the consul observing the peculiar military life in Schlachtstadt, noting the surreal blend of civilian and military presences in the town. The consul's primary task involves the examination of invoices from local textile manufacturers, yet he finds himself drawn into a situation involving a young military deserter named Karl Schwartz. Through the consul's interaction with Karl, who appears innocent and simple-minded, the story showcases the amusing misunderstandings that arise from bureaucratic duty and the cultural differences between America and Germany. The narrative establishes a whimsical tone with charming characters, setting the stage for further explorations of light and shadow throughout the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Harte, Bret, 1836-1902 |
|---|---|
| Title | Stories in Light and Shadow |
| Contents | "Unser Karl" -- Uncle Jim and Uncle Billy -- See Yup -- The Desborough Connections -- Salomy Jane's Kiss -- The man and the mountain -- The passing of Enriquez. |
| Credits | Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 69.5 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | American fiction -- 19th century |
| Subject | California -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 2508 |
| Release Date | May 18, 2006 |
| Last Update | Jan 27, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 550 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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