Other editions of book The Pool in the Desert

"The Pool in the Desert" by Sara Jeannette Duncan. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

The Pool in the Desert, originally published in 1903, is a collection of four stories that illustrates the blend of sympathy and ironic detachment with which Sara Jeannette Duncan portrayed the British presence in India. Explores the impact of isolation on the small British communities of Victorian India. In the four stories collected here—"The Pool in the Desert," "A Mother in India," “An Impossible Ideal,” and “The Hesitation of Miss Anderson”—Duncan's women have certain freedoms living amidst the reaches of Empire “The Pool in the Desert represents the climate of desire that defined the New Woman, and that animated Sara Jeannette Duncan in her striving for personal and professional achievement.” - Misao Dean, University of Victoria

In The Pool in the Desert, first published in 1903, Sara Jeannette Duncan explores the impact of isolation on the small British communities of Victorian India. In the four stories collected here―“The Pool in the Desert,” “A Mother in India,” “An Impossible Ideal,” and “The Hesitation of Miss Anderson”―Duncan’s women have certain freedoms living amidst the reaches of Empire, but they also must negotiate their way through a landscape dominated by the constraints of small military societies. The stories that result combine a delicacy of manners and movement that recalls Henry James, with a wit and sharp eye for small town foibles that bring Stephen Leacock to mind.

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There were times when we had to go without puddings to pay John's uniform bills and always I did the facings myself with a cloth-ball to save getting new ones. I would have polished his sword too if I had been allowed; I adored his sword. And once I remember we painted and varnished our own dog-cart and very smart it looked to save fifty rupees. (Excerpt)

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.