Wayside Courtships

"Wayside Courtships" by Hamlin Garland is a collection of tales set against the backdrop of rural America, where love and socio-economic realities collide. The book follows various young people as they tackle affairs of the heart and the need for self-improvement. The reader meets Stacey, a newcomer to town searching for work as a teacher. He meets Herman Allen, adding to the story's complexity as he is both a reflection and foil to Stacey's struggles with his environment, his feelings of not being good enough, and the prospect of love. The book creates a vivid picture of early community life, emphasizing courtship and the forces that bring people together.