Katharine Ellis Barrett
The Wide Awake Girls in Winsted
"The Wide Awake Girls in Winsted" by Katharine Ruth Ellis is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Catherine Smith, a young girl returning home from college for the summer, who is driven by a desire to contribute to her community in Winsted. The novel explores themes of friendship, ambition, and the importance of education as Catherine, motivated by her experiences and friendships, embarks on a mission to establish a library in her town with the help of her peers. At the start of the narrative, Catherine is introduced as a passionate and earnest character, eager to express her thoughts and feelings through writing, particularly a song for her college. While struggling with her inspiration, she interacts with a range of characters, including the ever-talking Algernon Swinburne and his mischievous younger brother, Elsmere. As the story unfolds, Catherine’s recollections of friendships from college lead her to the idea of bringing her friends together for the purpose of creating a library, setting the stage for a community-centered journey filled with cooperation and adventure. The opening not only establishes Catherine’s motivations but also hints at the coming themes of collaboration and self-discovery as she navigates her relationships and aspirations.