Mortal Summer by Mark Van Doren

"Mortal Summer" by Mark Van Doren is a novel written in the early 1950s, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and the human connection to both the divine and the mortal. The story intricately intertwines mythological figures with the lives of ordinary people in a rural setting, presenting a poignant commentary on the nature of life and relationships. Set against a backdrop of a fleeting summer, the book reflects on the beauty and tragedy of human existence. The narrative revolves around the lives of Daniel, Dora, and Bruce, with a focus on Daniel's internal struggles as he grapples with his feelings for Dora while being haunted by the consequences of their prior affair. As summer unfolds, the tension between the characters escalates, revealing their concealed emotions, societal expectations, and the looming presence of divine entities who influence their lives. Through a series of events that culminate in Dora’s painful childbirth and tragic death, the novel highlights the complexity of love, loss, and the idea of duty. The gods watch over these mortal struggles, embodying the tension between divine will and human frailty, ultimately illustrating the transient yet profound nature of human experiences. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Van Doren, Mark, 1894-1972
LoC No. 54018137
Title Mortal Summer
Credits Tim Lindell, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Reading Level Reading ease score: 91.5 (5th grade). Very easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject American poetry -- 20th century
Category Text
eBook-No. 64783
Release Date
Last Update Oct 18, 2024
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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