The Day of His Youth

"The Day of His Youth" by Alice Brown is a novel written in the late 19th century. It tells the poignant story of Francis Hume, a boy who grows up in the woods under the watchful care of his father, Ernest Hume, following the death of his mother during childbirth. The narrative explores themes of nature's influence on personal development, the complexities of love, and the inevitability of personal and social change as Francis transitions from a sheltered childhood toward a more complicated maturity. At the start of the story, we are introduced to the profound loss experienced by Francis and his father, shaping their existence in isolation within the natural landscape. The two men create a makeshift life in the woods, cultivating both their physical strength and a bond strengthened by shared experiences and ideals. However, as Francis enters adolescence, he becomes increasingly aware of the world beyond the trees and encounters new people, igniting feelings of love and desire that challenge the simplicity of their previous lives. The opening establishes a rich backdrop for a tale that will explore the trials of growing up, societal expectations, and the push and pull between individual dreams and communal responsibilities. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alice Brown was an American novelist, poet and playwright, best known as a writer of local color stories. She also contributed a chapter to the collaborative novel, The Whole Family (1908).