Sweet with Violets...
Late to my own sisters party—quite shocking—but here I am just in time to say farewell. :) When Heidi told me that her first Inklings Exploration would be centered around Violets I knew instantly that I wanted to highlight a piece from A Speckled Bird by Augusta Jane Evans. Lyrical with elegance...of setting unparalleled...and the romance...! The romance is recorded with delicate perfection and a depth that takes your breath away with its sweet loveliness. It is THE ideal romance novel and, in fact, one of my favorite stories ever!
“She had never spoken, and the doctor said she never would. Standing outside the door, Father Temple waited one noon to hear the physician's report. As he came out he put his hand on the priest's shoulder and answered the mute appeal in eyes that were wells of hopeless grief.
'Don't leave her. I have asked the matron to let you stay now. We have done all we could, and she does not suffer. She may slip away at any moment.'
The room was very still, and sweet with the violets which Father Temple brought daily. The muslin curtain had been looped back to admit light that fell full on the pillow where lay the beautiful head....”
Refreshing yet with such an aching sadness, isn't it? I assure you, the rest of the story is even more lovely and tingle-worthy!
Next, a snippet from Devota, also by Augusta Jane Evans, because reading it I could not bear not sharing it...
“The moon shone full on both faces, and each had suddenly contracted and hardened. The Governor threw back his head and folded his arms behind him; Devota's right hand clutched the edge of the dial, and with her left she drew from beneath the violets in her girdle a slip of telegram paper...”
That part is so thrilling! Devota is more melodramatic in style than A Speckled Bird, but parts such as that make me love it almost as much.
I have never heard of this book, but it seems absolutely, beautifully lovely! Thank you for introducing it to me! :-D
ReplyDelete~ Naomi
Naomi,
DeleteYou are most welcome! And I do hope you can find them as -- being full of all sorts of elegant gowns and dinners and splendid mansions -- I think they are just the sort of stories you greatly relish! :)
I've never heard of these books either. But my favorite violets are the white ones with faint purple stripes coming up out of the centers. They are elegance personified.
ReplyDeleteHamlette,
DeleteI don't believe I have had the chance to examine any that look like that, but they do sound so very beautiful! :)
I've only ever found them growing wild.
DeleteI've never heard of these books either! They sound so sweet, though, and I love the pictures you included. :)
ReplyDeleteNatalie,
DeleteThey are very sweet in a beautifully light, sigh-worthy way! Do see if you can find them soon! Especially A Speckled Bird. :) And thanks about the pictures! Heidi found one for me and I found the other. :)
I'll join the chorus and say I've never heard of this book before either!
ReplyDeleteI love violets, and would have to say purple are my favorite.
Becca and I tagged you for an award: http://cleverbunnies.blogspot.com/2015/06/sisterhood-blogger-award.html
Bethany,
DeleteDeep, deep purple violets are my favorites too! That is, if I'm not in the mood for the long stemmed white ones... :)
I've never read Augusta Jane Evans, but she's on my reading list. Reading your excerpts makes me think that I may have spied violets in Barren Ground by Ellen Glasgow! Unfortunately I just returned it to the library, so I can't look! I will check it out so I can finish reading it, & be on the hunt for those violets! :)
ReplyDeleteJillian,
DeleteThanks for commenting! I do hope you can read some of hers soon! And I am off to see if our library has the book you mentioned. :)