Author
Olive Harper
1842-1915
Olive Harper (1842-1915) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaSubjects
Books by Olive Harper
The shoemaker : $b A powerful picture of nature, adapted from Hal Reid's famous drama of the same name
"The Shoemaker" by Olive Harper is a historical novel, likely written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Morris Goldberg, a Jewish shoemaker who has immigrated to America from Russia with his family, seeking a better life. The narrative explores themes of struggle, resilience, and the immigrant experience, including the challenges faced by Goldberg and his daughter Dora as they navigate their newfound freedom in a difficult environment. The opening of the book establishes the backdrop of Morris's humble shop located in a rundown area of New York City. We are introduced to his relentless work ethic and deep love for his daughter Dora, who is growing into a beautiful young woman but is haunted by the memory of her deceased mother. As Morris juggles the demands of his small business, we see his hope for a promising future for his daughter amidst their daily struggles. The presence of other characters, including a simple boy named Loney and the grim realities surrounding them, lays the foundation for a rich tapestry of human emotion and the darker aspects of urban life, hinting at the conflicts and choices that will follow in their journey.
The sociable ghost : $b Being the adventures of a reporter who was invited by the sociable ghost to a grand banquet, ball, and convention under the ground of old Trinity churchyard. A true tale of the things he saw and did not see while he was not there.
The sociable ghost : Being the adventures of a reporter who was invited by the…. by Olive Harper is a satirical supernatural novel written in the early 20th century. Set in and beneath New York’s Trinity Churchyard, it follows a young newspaper man and a loquacious “Sociable Ghost” through a night of ghostly revels—banquets, dances, and conventions—used to lampoon high society, publishers, and pious pretenses. The tone is comic and irreverent, mixing urban history with witty afterlife etiquette and class commentary. The opening of the novel finds a heartbroken reporter brooding in Trinity churchyard, where the graves stir and a sardonic ghost borrows his pipe and whiskey, then guides him through a cemetery tour laced with jokes about epitaphs, cherub carvings, “passports” for the dead, and the folly of memorial sentiment. The ghost explains this is the one night ghosts may freely walk, previews an underground convention and ball, mocks mediums, and gossips about the famous (including a vignette of John Jacob Astor’s spirit happily working an old baling press). Led through the Lawrence tomb into a vast, flower-lit hall curated by a grand social impresario, the reporter witnesses a chaotic card-room episode where a hulking professional gambler unwillingly teaches six lady ghosts poker with beans, and then hears a “mended ghost” recount the brutal mishandling of remains during a church vault relocation. The section closes as a sumptuous banquet begins, the reporter is welcomed to a prime seat, and a spirited quarrel over manners—knives, saucers, and “civilization”—sets the satirical tone for what follows.