This1861novellawasthefirstpublishedworkbyRebeccaHardingDavis:writer,socialreformer,andpioneerofliteraryrealism.IttellsthestoryofHughWolfe,aWelshlaborerinanironmillwhoisalsoatalentedsculptor,andofDeborah,thehunchbackedwomanwhounrequitedlyloveshim.
ThisaccountbyTrotskyisoftheeventsinRussiafromtheOctoberRevolutionof1917inPetrograd,tohissigningoftheBrest-LitovsktreatywithGermanyon3rdMarch1918whichtookRussiaoutoftheFirstWorldWar.ThetreatyexactedheavylossesforRussiaintermsofannexationsoflandandfinancialindemnitiestoGermany.Inthisextendedessay,TrotskyarguesthereasonsastowhyhedecidedtosignwhatappearstobeadisastrousagreementforRussia……
JacobMoodyofRiverborowastall,gauntandswarthy,black-bearded--hismassesofgrizzled,uncombedhairandtheredscaracrosshisnoseandcheekaddingtohissinisterappearance.Histumble-downhousestoodonarockybitoflandbackoftheSawyerpasture,andtheacresofhisfarmstretchedoutonallsidesofit.Helivedalone,atealone,plowed,planted,sowed,harvestedalone,andwasmorethanwillingtodiealone,"unwept,unhonored,andunsung." Sowhowouldeverthinktovisithim,andurgehimtoattendchurch·ButanewHomeMissionsocietyhasbeensetupbythegirls,whichhaselectedasitsfirstpresidentthat"will-o'-the-wispishlittleperson,"Rebecca!Andwhenshesetshermindtoatask... KateDouglasWiggin(1856-1923),authorofsuchworksasRebeccaofSunnybrookFarm,Penelope'sEnglishExperiences,andAVillageStradivarius,wasoneofAmerica'smostpopularwritersofbooksforyoungpeople.