The Three Brides, Love in a Cottage, and Other Tales by Francis A. Durivage

“The Three Brides, Love in a Cottage, and Other Tales” by Francis A. Durivage is a collection of short stories likely written in the mid-19th century. This anthology features diverse narratives filled with themes of love, tragedy, and moral lessons, exemplified through distinct characters facing a variety of life’s dilemmas. The stories offer readers an engaging exploration of human emotions and relationships during a time when societal norms were rapidly changing. The opening portion introduces us to the setting and the narrative style of Durivage’s work. The narrative unfolds with a traveling character who, faced with adverse weather and a bothersome journey, seeks refuge at a lonely inn in New Hampshire. Here, he encounters an assortment of less-than-pleasant characters and the eerie ambiance of the inn and its surroundings, including the graveyard nearby. This evokes not only an atmosphere conducive to storytelling but also foreshadows the intertwining of life, death, and human experience that the author presents in his tales. The stage is set for deeper themes to emerge, involving the relationships and lives of the characters that reside within or interact with the inn’s environment.