Great Mysteries and Little Plagues

"Great Mysteries and Little Plagues" by John Neal is a collection of essays and stories written in the late 19th century. The work delves into the complexities and wonders of childhood, exploring themes around the nature of children, their behaviors, and the lessons they impart. Through observations and anecdotes, Neal reflects on what it means to be a child and how these experiences shape the future of society. The opening of the book features a preface where Neal expresses his disdain for formal introductions, emphasizing his commitment to share unexpected insights about children. He begins with the question, “What are children?” and uses vivid examples to show the remarkable depth and potential that lie within the hearts of young ones. Neal presents a philosophical exploration that highlights the connection between children and the essence of humanity, illustrating through anecdotes how their innocent remarks often carry profound truths about existence, morality, and society. The vivid and nuanced observations set the tone for the essays that follow, promising a thoughtful exploration of childhood through the lens of mystery and understanding. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Neal was an American writer, critic, editor, lecturer, and activist. Considered both eccentric and influential, he delivered speeches and published essays, novels, poems, and short stories between the 1810s and 1870s in the United States and Great Britain, championing American literary nationalism and regionalism in their earliest stages. Neal advanced the development of American art, fought for women's rights, advocated the end of slavery and racial prejudice, and helped establish the American gymnastics movement.