Bret Harte's 1890 novel A Waif of the Plains, set against the backdrop of the Oregon Trail in the 1850s. The story moves around the central character, a waif, and the activities and behaviour of the waif. The descriptive details and realistic illustration of the setting and events add to the strength of the story.
The beautiful description in the opening of the first chapter: A long level of dull gray that further away became a faint blue, with here and there darker patches that looked like water. At times an open space, blackened and burnt in an irregular circle, with a shred of newspaper, an old rag, or broken tin can lying in the ashes. Beyond these always a low dark line that seemed to sink into the ground at night, and rose again in the morning with the first light, but never otherwise changed its height and distance...., sets the tone of the story. The story is not only interesting but also highly captivating.
- ISBN13 9781105927065
- Publish Date 5 July 2012
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 25 June 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Lulu.com
- Format eBook (OEB)
- Language English