Ella Higginson (1861–1940)

This collection of short stories, first published in the 1890s, are a very good read.

I’d no idea what to expect, having never heard of Ella Higginson, but I’m impressed overall. Okay, the style isn’t great, with lots of adverbs and adjectives, the use of the passive voice, etc., but I tend to be more forgiving of this in pre-1950 texts, and more so if it’s pre-1900.

The only style element I will criticise is the vernacular used in the dialogue, which is sometimes hard to understand, and it slows the narrative down. In some instances, the endless punctuation is needless. For example, abbreviating “should” to “sh’u’d” is pointless. Who wouldn’t pronounce “should” as “shud”?

Apart from the above, though, the stories and characters make this collection an engaging read. Every plot feels original and relatable. All characters are vivid and believable. It’s amazing how, as people, our attitudes in may respects haven’t changed over the past 125 years.

Most stories have unhappy endings, which evokes sympathy for the characters. I particularly felt sorry for a little girl who was excited about being part of a parade. I won’t elaborate because I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but this is one of several tales that highlight the author’s gift as a storyteller.

One thing is for sure, I’d like to read more works by Ella Higginson.… (altro)