A Summer Evening's Dream / 1898

Name: A Summer Evening's Dream / 1898
Author: Edward Bellamy

By Edward Bellamy

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American Literature

About This Book

A quiet summer evening opens on a village street where two young women spend a languid afternoon and talk about neighbors: an elderly gentleman and an older woman who have long shared a devoted, companionable relationship without marrying. The narrative traces their youthful attachment and the way habit, temperament, and unexamined assumptions let affection settle into lifelong intimacy instead of formal marriage, while the woman privately subordinates lingering longing. The scene contrasts pastoral stillness and gentle nostalgia with the younger visitor's romantic curiosity, exploring themes of duty, complacency, and the subtle sadness of renounced possibilities.

About the Author

Edward Bellamy

Edward Bellamy was an American author and social activist, best known for his utopian novel "Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887," published in 1888. This influential work imagines a future society that has eliminated poverty and inequality through a system of collective ownership. Bellamy's writing often reflects his concerns about the social and economic issues of his time, advocating for reform and a more equitable society. In addition to his notable novel, he wrote several other works, including short stories and essays that further explore themes of love, society, and human potential. His ideas contributed to the early American socialist movement and continue to resonate in discussions about social justice.