description A Lantern in Her Hand Overview
A Lantern in Her Hand is a novel by Bess Streeter Aldrich first published in 1928. It follows Abbie Deal, a pioneer woman who settles with her family in the Nebraska Territory, tracing her life from the 1850s through the early twentieth century as she sacrifices personal artistic ambitions for the demands of homesteading and motherhood. The novel was a commercial success and became a staple of midwestern American literature, widely assigned in schools for decades.
help A Lantern in Her Hand FAQ
Is A Lantern in Her Hand based on a true story?
The novel is fiction, but Aldrich drew inspiration from pioneer family histories, including experiences associated with her own mother. Its homesteading hardships reflect the settlement of Nebraska during the nineteenth century.
What does the lantern symbolize in the novel?
The lantern represents the guidance, endurance, and cultural light Abbie provides for her family. It also captures the cost of sustaining later generations while setting aside her own dreams of music and painting.
Is A White Bird Flying a sequel to A Lantern in Her Hand?
Yes. A White Bird Flying, published in 1931, continues the family story through Abbie's granddaughter Laura Deal and her ambition to become a writer.
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