Quite So

"Quite So" by Thomas Bailey Aldrich is a short story set during the Civil War, likely written in the late 19th century. This poignant narrative provides a glimpse into the lives of soldiers in the Army of the Potomac, focusing on a character nicknamed "Quite So," whose real name is John Bladburn. The story captures themes of companionship, loss, and the personal struggles of soldiers amidst the backdrop of war. The plot centers on Bladburn, an unassuming and reticent man who becomes a cherished member of a military mess during a challenging time in the war. Despite being surrounded by camaraderie, Bladburn harbors a deep sense of loneliness tied to his past, specifically his unfulfilled love for a girl named Mary, and the death of his family. Throughout the narrative, Bladburn's quiet demeanor and devotion to his tattered Latin grammar come to symbolize his inner life and aspirations. As the story unfolds, it culminates in tragedy when he suffers a severe injury during picket duty. In his final moments, he expresses a poignant farewell while clutching the grammar book, revealing the depth of his character and the loss of the dreams he held dear. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Thomas Bailey Aldrich was an American writer, poet, critic, and editor. He is notable for his long editorship of The Atlantic Monthly, during which he published writers including Charles W. Chesnutt. He was also known for his semi-autobiographical book The Story of a Bad Boy, which established the "bad boy's book" subgenre in nineteenth-century American literature, and for his poetry.