"Van Bibber and Others" by Richard Harding Davis is a collection of short stories published during the late 19th century. The stories center on young Van Bibber, a well-to-do socialite navigating the complexities of life, love, and social expectations among a circle of friends and acquaintances. The opening of the collection introduces readers to the bustling world of theater on the first night of a comic opera, as Van Bibber arrives backstage.
The scene is charged with excitement and anxiety, highlighting the contrasts between the performers' struggles and Van Bibber's calm demeanor. He interacts with various characters, including the prima donna and the stage manager, establishing his role as an observer with a keen understanding of the theatrical life around him. As he takes a genuine interest in the youngest child performer, the "Littlest Girl," Van Bibber's protective instincts emerge, hinting at deeper themes of responsibility and care that will weave through the stories. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Her first appearance -- Van Bibber's man-servant -- The hungry man was fed -- Van Bibber at the races -- An experiment in economy -- Mr. Travers's first hunt -- Love me, love my dog -- Eleanore Cuyler -- A recruit at Christmas -- A patron of art -- Andy M'Gee's chorus girl -- A Leander of the East River -- How Hefty Burke got even -- Outside the prison -- An unfinished story.
Credits
Produced by Janet Kegg and PG Distributed Proofreaders
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 75.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
