Miss Civilization E-Book

Richard Harding Davis

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

In "Miss Civilization," Richard Harding Davis masterfully intertwines elements of romance and social critique within the framework of a vivid narrative. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, the novel follows the enigmatic figure of society woman Beatrice, whose personal struggles reflect broader themes of gender roles and societal expectations. Davis's prose, characterized by sharp dialogues and rich descriptions, invites readers into a world grappling with modernity amid notions of progress and tradition. The literary context of this work mirrors the shifting paradigms of the Gilded Age, where questions of identity and integrity are poignantly explored through the lens of evolving American values. Richard Harding Davis was a prominent American journalist and writer known for his adventurous spirit and keen observations of society. His experiences traveling through war-torn regions and mingling with the elite endowed him with a profound understanding of human nature and societal dynamics. These insights not only informed his reporting but also enriched his fiction, compelling him to address the complexities of modern life in "Miss Civilization." This novel is highly recommended for readers interested in early American literature, social commentary, and character-driven narratives. Davis's exploration of a woman's quest for self within societal confines resonates with contemporary issues, making it a timeless read that provokes thought and discussion. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Leseprobe

Richard Harding Davis

Miss Civilization

Enriched edition. A Comedy in One Act

In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience.

Introduction, Studies and Commentaries by Caleb Ford

Edited and published by Good Press, 2020

[email protected]

EAN 4064066107345

Table of Contents

Introduction

Synopsis

Historical Context

Miss Civilization

Analysis

Reflection

Introduction

Table of Contents

A deft social comedy of nerve and manners, Miss Civilization turns on the paradox that the suavest tools of a modern city—polite speech, public opinion, and organized communication—can prove stronger than the blunt instruments of force when wielded by a resolute young woman.

Miss Civilization is a short stage comedy by American author and journalist Richard Harding Davis, known for his brisk prose and keen eye for contemporary life near the turn of the twentieth century. Set in a recognizable, modern American milieu, the piece uses the immediacy of a single setting and a compact timeline to showcase quick reversals and nimble dialogue. Written and produced around the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, it belongs to the era’s lively theatrical tradition of light comedies that examine social roles through wit, speed, and situation, while reflecting Davis’s fascination with the energy and self-confidence of urban America.

Without venturing beyond its spoiler-safe premise, the play opens on an intrusion of rough intention into an orderly workplace, only to find its plans complicated by a young woman whose composure never breaks. Surrounded by the routines, messages, and gatekeepers of a bustling organization, she meets confrontation not with panic but with tact and tactical thinking. The resulting contest is one of tempo and tone: bluster pushes, etiquette yields and redirects, and the rhythms of a city’s communications apparatus subtly reframe the balance of power. The experience is brisk, humorous, and buoyant, trading menace for momentum and surprise.

Readers encounter a voice that is clipped, theatrical, and purpose-built for the stage, where stakes are established in a breath and shifted in an aside. Davis deploys crisp exchanges and practical details that feel pulled from contemporary offices, allowing everyday objects and routines to become instruments of plot. The mood stays light even as tension hums; the comedy springs from status, timing, and the incongruity between threatened violence and unflappable poise. The brevity of the piece is a feature, not a limitation: it grants immediacy, concentrates character, and lets the audience savor the elegance of a single, decisive social performance.

At its heart, Miss Civilization stages a debate about what civilization means when the pressure mounts: Is it ornament, or is it leverage? The heroine treats courtesy as strategy rather than decoration, using knowledge of systems, institutions, and reputations to create options where none seem available. The intruders, defined initially by blunt purpose, become foils for a lesson in how appearances, alliances, and timing can reshape outcomes. Class dynamics, gender expectations, and urban savvy intersect as Davis tests the assumption that physical dominance decides everything, suggesting instead that influence accumulates in libraries, ledgers, and lobbies as much as in muscle.

The play’s technologies and titles may belong to its moment, but its questions feel current: Who controls the narrative in a crisis? How do networks—social, professional, and informational—translate into power in real time? Miss Civilization invites readers to consider how reputations are made and unmade, how publicity disciplines behavior, and how confidence can be both armor and instrument. It also offers a nimble portrait of female agency within constraints, proposing that intelligence and institutional fluency can puncture bravado. In an age of instantaneous communication, the work’s fascination with speed, messaging, and coordination reads as prescient rather than quaint.

Approached today, Miss Civilization offers the pleasures of a fast, focused comedy and the stimulation of an idea play: that civility, far from passivity, can be an active force that organizes people, tools, and attention toward a safer outcome. Readers can expect a clean arc, crisp exchanges, and a satisfying demonstration of leverage through brains over brawn. As an entry point to Richard Harding Davis’s dramatic work, it showcases the clarity and pace that made him a prominent voice of his time while raising questions—about image, influence, and the uses of modern life—that continue to engage contemporary audiences.