An Old Fashioned Girl

The famous sentimental novel by Louisa May Alcott is published here without abridgment; it follows the adventures of Polly Milton, a country girl who discovers the opulence of urban life. 

Alcott's book is something of a coming-of-age tale, as we join the fourteen year old Polly during her journey to the family of Fanny Shaw, one of her best friends. Raised in the countryside, Polly has previously only seen the rural life and is accustomed to the raising of livestock and the slow pace of life the country is known for. 

Arriving in the city, Polly is shocked by the affluence of her surroundings. She is taken aback by the numerous towering buildings, bustling streets, people in fashionable dress and fancy decor, and their fanciful habits. Although she makes a return visit each year, Polly is excluded from the Shaws' social circle on account of her manners, which her urbanized counterparts think quaint and "countrified". 

As well as being a good story mindful of the stark societal contrasts, An Old Fashioned Girl is something of a history in that it demonstrates the growing divide between the cities and the countryside. Industrialization in the 19th century brought new wealth, technology and fashions as never before, with most of these enjoyed by the new middle class of the urban areas. However, ancient virtues such as valuing family and community, and a respect for religious beliefs, remained stronger in the rural regions.