The Story of Silk

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25025

Title

The Story of Silk

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set against the backdrop of World War I, this educational narrative follows the Bretton family in a French valley dedicated to sericulture. When the father and uncle are called to fight, teenage siblings Marie and Pierre must mature rapidly to save their family's silk business. Blending historical fact with a charming fairy-tale tone, the story explores the intricate process of raising silkworms, reeling silk, and the resilience required to sustain an industry during wartime.

Summary up to 500 words

In Sara Ware Bassett's *The Story of Silk*, the narrative follows the Bretton family of Bellerivre, a fertile French valley dedicated to sericulture. When the Great War calls away Monsieur Bretton and his brother, Uncle Jacques, the burden of sustaining the family's mulberry groves and silkworm industry falls upon fifteen-year-old Marie, sixteen-year-old Pierre, their mother, and their loyal St. Bernard, Hector. The story chronicles the children's rapid maturation as they assume adult responsibilities to harvest cocoons and maintain the local economy. The plot shifts from the quiet French village to the industrial hubs of Saint Michel and later Paterson, New Jersey. Pierre travels alone to the mills, where he undergoes a rigorous education in the science of silk production. Guided by a foreman and a young employee named Henri, Pierre learns the complex nuances of the trade: distinguishing between perfect, flawed, and calcined cocoons; curing eggs; reeling silk in water of specific temperatures; and dyeing and twisting the filament into high-quality fabrics like satins and velvets. His journey continues in America, where he masters operations ranging from lacing skeins to running power looms, gaining insight into tariffs and the rapid American fashion cycles. A dramatic turn occurs with news that Monsieur Bretton survived captivity only to be killed in a subsequent engagement. Despite this tragedy, the family finds new purpose in the United States. Marie marries and settles nearby, while Pierre rises to a prominent position in the Paterson mills. The novel concludes with the family embracing their new life in America while maintaining a loyal, loving bond with their homeland. Through their experiences, the book illustrates the enduring connection between the old and new worlds, highlighting themes of resilience, the dignity of labor, and the adaptability required to survive global conflict and economic change.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Juvenile literature