The Evergreen Tree (1917)

The Evergreen Tree is a novel written by Percy Mackaye and first published in 1917. The story is set in the early 1900s and follows the life of a young man named Richard Lestrange, who is the son of a wealthy New York businessman. Richard is a sensitive and artistic soul who is searching for meaning and purpose in his life.As the novel begins, Richard is a student at Harvard University, where he is studying literature and philosophy. He is deeply influenced by the ideas of the transcendentalists, especially Ralph Waldo Emerson, and he dreams of living a life of simplicity and contemplation.However, Richard's plans are interrupted when he falls in love with a beautiful and wealthy young woman named Cynthia. Cynthia is everything Richard is not: she is practical, ambitious, and materialistic. Despite their differences, the two become engaged, and Richard begins to question his own ideals and values.The novel follows Richard and Cynthia's relationship as they navigate the challenges of marriage and family life. Along the way, Richard meets a cast of characters who challenge his beliefs and help him to see the world in a new way. These include a group of artists and intellectuals who live in a bohemian community in Greenwich Village, as well as a wise old man who lives in the woods and teaches Richard about the beauty and wisdom of nature.Throughout the novel, Mackaye explores themes of love, marriage, spirituality, and the search for meaning in life. The Evergreen Tree is a thought-provoking and beautifully written work of fiction that continues to resonate with readers today.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. 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 their original work.