Polly and Eleanor

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25419

Title

Polly and Eleanor

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the rugged Colorado Rockies, this adventure follows Polly Brewster and her friend Eleanor Maynard as they navigate life on a ranch, discover a gold mine, and face the threat of claim-jumpers. Blending frontier excitement with themes of female independence and modernity, the story captures the thrill of the West while championing a girl's right to seek education and adventure beyond traditional domestic roles.

Summary up to 500 words

In Lillian Elizabeth Roy's *Polly and Eleanor*, the spirited fourteen-year-old Polly Brewster and her delicate friend Eleanor Maynard navigate the rugged life at Pebbly Pit Ranch in Colorado. Following the rediscovery of a valuable gold vein known as Montresor's Mine, the family faces immediate threats from claim-jumpers. To protect their rights, they employ a foreman, a Native American guide named Rattle-Snake Mike, and the sheriff's son. The narrative centers on a pivotal conflict between traditional ranch life and Polly's fierce desire for higher education and independence. When her father initially insists she remain at home to manage the ranch, Polly passionately argues that modern girls deserve the same opportunities as boys. Supported by her mother and friends, she convinces her father to allow her to attend high school in Denver. As the story progresses, the group travels to New York, where Polly and Eleanor continue their adventures in the city. The plot involves surveying work, interactions with various characters including a young engineer named Tom Latimer and a mysterious stranger named Kenneth Evans, and the ongoing struggle to secure the valuable Rainbow Cliffs. The novel balances high-stakes mining drama with significant character development, highlighting Polly's growth from a sheltered ranch girl into a confident young woman ready to face the world. Through these experiences, the story explores themes of gender equality, the pursuit of education, and the courage required to break free from conventional expectations. The tale concludes with the girls successfully incorporating themselves as the 'Polly-Eleanor Company,' ready to tackle new ventures and challenges in their rapidly changing world.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25419.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg25419.epub

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2026-07-04 19:07 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Girls