Authors: John W. De Forest
ISBN-13: 9781164447498, ISBN-10: 1164447491
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Company
Date Published: September 2010
Edition: (Non-applicable)
John W. De Forest’s best-known novel is introduced by Sharon L. Gravett, an associate professor of English at Valdosta State University.
Miss Ravenel’s Conversion is important in American literary history as the first novel to depict the Civil War with realism. Its battlefield scenes owe much to John De Forest’s own experience as a captain in that conflict. But in 1867 genteel readers were affronted by De Forest’s frank view of war and sex. Though praised by William Dean Howells, the novel was forgotten after De Forest’s death in 1906. It was later rediscovered by Van Wyck Brooks and other critics.
Modern readers will enjoy this story of a southern woman who comes to New Boston with her father in 1861, opposes his views on secession and abolition, and is changed forever by the great war. Some critics have called the charming Lillie Ravenel the first realistic heroine in American fiction.
Introduction | ix | |
Suggestions for Further Reading | xxxv | |
A Note on the Text | xxxix | |
Miss Ravenel's Conversion from Secession to Loyalty | ||
I. | Mr. Edward Colburne becomes acquainted with Miss Lillie Ravenel | 3 |
II. | Miss Ravenel becomes acquainted with Lieutenant-Colonel Carter | 14 |
III. | Mr. Colburne takes a Segar with Lieutenant-Colonel Carter | 27 |
IV. | The Dramatic Personages go on a Pic-nic, and study the Ways of New Boston | 36 |
V. | The Dramatic Personages get News from Bull Run | 50 |
VI. | Mr. Colburne sees his Way clear to be a Soldier | 61 |
VII. | Captain Colburne raises a Company, and Colonel Carter a Regiment | 72 |
VIII. | The Brave bid Good-bye to the Fair | 86 |
IX. | From New Boston to New Orleans, via Fort Jackson | 98 |
X. | The Ravenels find Captain Colburne in good Quarters | 110 |
XI. | New Orleans Life and New Orleans Ladies | 125 |
XII. | Colonel Carter befriends the Ravenels | 140 |
XIII. | The Course of True Love begins to run rough | 154 |
XIV. | Lillie chooses for herself | 169 |
XV. | Lillie bids Good-bye to the Lover whom she has chosen, and to the Lover whom she would not choose | 180 |
XVI. | Colonel Carter gains one Victory, and Miss Ravenel another | 193 |
XVII. | Colonel Carter is entirely victorious before he begins his Campaign | 206 |
XVIII. | Doctor Ravenel commences the Reorganization of Southern Labor | 219 |
XIX. | The Reorganization of Southern Labor is continued with Vigor | 232 |
XX. | Captain Colburne marches and fights with Credit | 245 |
XXI. | Captain Colburne has Occasion to see Life in a Hospital | 258 |
XXII. | Captain Colburne re-enforces the Ravenels in Time to aid them in running away | 271 |
XXIII. | Captain Colburne covers the Retreat of the Southern Labor Organization | 285 |
XXIV. | A desperate Attack and a successful Defence | 298 |
XXV. | Domestic Happiness in spite of adverse Circumstances | 309 |
XXVI. | Captain Colburne describes Camp and Field Life | 322 |
XXVII. | Colonel Carter makes an Astronomical Expedition with a dangerous Fellow-traveller | 332 |
XXVIII. | The Colonel continues to be led into Temptation | 345 |
XXIX. | Lillie reaches the Apotheosis of Womanhood | 360 |
XXX. | Colonel Carter commits his first ungentlemanly Action | 372 |
XXXI. | A Torture which might have been spared | 384 |
XXXII. | A most logical Conclusion | 396 |
XXXIII. | Lillie devotes herself entirely to the Rising Generation | 413 |
XXXIV. | Lillie's Attention is recalled to the Rising Generation | 426 |
XXXV. | Captain Colburne as Mr. Colburne | 440 |
XXXVI. | A Brace of Offers | 453 |
XXXVII. | A Marriage | 465 |
Explanatory Notes | 471 |