The Belle of Bowling Green

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76576

Title

The Belle of Bowling Green

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in early 19th-century New York, this novel explores the lives of the city's aristocratic families surrounding the historic Bowling Green. As war looms and personal dramas unfold, the story contrasts the fading glory of the past with the rising ambitions of the present, weaving together romance, family duty, and the enduring spirit of the city.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in early 19th-century New York City, Amelia E. Barr's *The Belle of Bowling Green* transports readers to the civic heart of the metropolis, the Bowling Green, surrounded by the stately homes of wealthy Dutch and American families. The narrative centers on Sapphira Bloommaert, a spirited eighteen-year-old whose life is upended by the prospect of war and her father's gout. Her story intertwines with that of Leonard Murray, a lover torn between his devotion to Sapphira and his loyalty to his friend Aaron Burr, a man haunted by past tragedies. Meanwhile, the elderly Madame Bloommaert navigates the city's social shifts with characteristic strength, while her daughter-in-law Carlita manages household affairs and reflects on the family's history, including a mysterious Texas land purchase that proves surprisingly valuable. The novel also introduces Annette de Vries, who accepts a proposal from Achille St. Ange, and follows the romantic entanglements of the youth as they face the pressures of social expectation, political unrest, and the changing landscape of New York. Through vivid characterizations and a rich sense of place, Barr captures the tension between tradition and progress, love and duty, and the personal stakes involved in the broader historical currents of the era. The story delves into the complexities of loyalty versus personal happiness, as Leonard struggles with his ancestral tendencies and his admiration for Burr against Sapphira's fears. Simultaneously, the Bloommaert family grapples with the transition from an old-world aristocracy to a modern commercial city, finding value in the past while embracing the future. The novel concludes with a reflection on the enduring spirit of New York, honoring both the dignified merchants of the past and the energetic citizens of the present, asserting that the bold, brave heart of the city still beats on the Bowling Green.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76576.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg76576.epub

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Categories

• History
• Fiction
• Social Life