The Charles Dudley Warner Library

The Charles Dudley Warner Library

By Charles Dudley WarnerFiction
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The Charles Dudley Warner Library episodes

  • Summer in a Garden Seventeenth Week
    In which the contemplative gardener reflects upon the sunlit repose of his garden’s late season, noting the fierce yet fleeting struggles of growth and harvest as well as the inevitable depredations by youthful interlopers. He muses gently on the nature of children’s curious natures and the bittersweet joys of nurturing fruit destined often to be spirited away before it can be fully enjoyed.
    10 min
  • Summer in a Garden Sixteenth Week
    In which the question of whether gardening pays is examined with a blend of practical accounting and poetic reflection, illustrating that the true value of tending a garden transcends mere monetary gain. Amidst calculations of cost and profit, the narrative gently unfolds the pleasures and trials of cultivating a city garden, culminating in the rich harvest of Concord grapes and the subtle rewards of sharing their sweetness with friends.
    12 min
  • Summer in a Garden Fifteenth Week
    In which a gardener returns from absence to find his plot overrun by relentless weeds and prowling poultry, reflecting upon the tireless spread of nature's persistent foes like the tenacious strawberry runners and the ubiquitous “pusley.” Amid musings on the enduring struggle against the garden’s wild intrusions and the satisfaction of harvesting modest potatoes, he contemplates the humbling boundaries of human endeavour in the face of constant growth and decay.
    9 min
  • Summer in a Garden Fourteenth Week
    In which the garden settles into a gentle, golden calm of late summer, its fruits ripening and fading amidst a tranquil bounty that invites reflection on the cycles of nature and human character. Yet even in this seeming peace, the relentless persistence of life asserts itself, as new challenges creep quietly back into the scene, reminding us that the natural world never truly rests.
    8 min
  • Summer in a Garden Thirteenth Week
    In which the humble toad’s nocturnal habits and sudden appearances after rain are examined with gentle curiosity, revealing truths about his nature that dispel common fables. Meanwhile, the garden’s pastoral peace is disturbed by a neighbour’s troublesome cow and persistent game poachers, whose unwelcome presence stirs both irritation and reflection on the rights and rhythms of country life.
    11 min
  • Summer in a Garden Twelfth Week
    In which the author reflects with a mild humour on the stubbornness of both corn cultivation and the indomitable pusley weed, observing the often disproportionate effort required to coax a modest yield from one's garden. He further muses on the vigorous joy of pruning hearty plants and the intricate, sometimes overwhelming nature of fertilising, concluding that one must wisely delegate this arduous labour to a skilled gardener.
    8 min
  • Summer in a Garden Eleventh Week
    In which the quiet joys and profound satisfactions of gardening reveal themselves as a philosophical balm to the spirit, offering a serene communion with nature and a respite from worldly cares. The author's gentle reflections extend to the keen observations of his faithful cat and the patient, contemplative character of plumbers, whose measured approach to work illuminates a simple yet profound way of life.
    9 min
  • Summer in a Garden Tenth Week
    In which a gardener endeavours to outwit the birds with a cunning scarecrow ruse, only to discover the delicate art of distraction and the burgeoning joys of harvesting one’s own produce. Meanwhile, he reflects on the subtle yet unmistakable ascendancy of the lady of the house, who claims both the garden’s bounty and the quiet command it entails.
    8 min
  • Summer in a Garden Ninth Week
    In which the garden becomes a setting for a whimsical meditation on the moral character of various vegetables, each judged for its social graces and literary merit with a touch of gentle irony. The author reflects on the interplay of natural selection and human intervention, alluding to the lively struggles beneath the garden’s surface and the curious ways in which life unfolds among his plants.
    8 min
  • Summer in a Garden Eighth Week
    In which a distinguished visitor, President Grant, graces the garden with his presence, bringing lively conversation and sincere admiration for the fruits of patient cultivation. The day unfolds with gentle humour and thoughtful reflections on politics, nature, and the simple joys borne from tending the earth.
    9 min

About The Charles Dudley Warner Library

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There is a peculiar pleasure in keeping company with a thoughtful writer, especially one who never hurries his reader nor mistakes noise for wisdom. Charles Dudley Warner possessed that rare gift.…