Duffels by Edward Eggleston is a collection of short stories that reflect the complexities of human nature and life in 18th and 19th-century America. The stories offer a wide array of characters, each grappling with the challenges and aspirations of their time, shedding light on the diverse experiences across the nation. At the heart of the collection is a story set in the Ephrata cloister of Pennsylvania, an 18th-century religious community. The narrative introduces a young woman caught between personal freedom and her religious obligations. This struggle explores the broader human experience of independence, love, and personal sacrifice. As conflicts arise within the cloister, they bring to the forefront themes of rebellion, faith, and the complex relationships formed under strict societal and religious expectations. The characters’ journeys, marked by internal and external battles, reflect the broader themes of personal growth, conflict with authority, and the search for identity. Eggleston’s masterful storytelling captures these emotional and social struggles, creating a poignant exploration of the human spirit.
Edward Eggleston was an American historian, novelist, and editor, born on December 10, 1837, in Vevay, Indiana, to Joseph Cary Eggleston and Mary Jane Craig. He was the brother of the author George Cary Eggleston. Due to illness during his childhood, Eggleston was educated primarily by his father. In 1856, he was ordained as a Methodist minister, and soon after began writing stories that gained considerable attention, particularly his "Hoosier" series, which includes The Hoosier Schoolmaster and The Hoosier Schoolboy. His works often focused on historical events and American life, with notable novels such as The End of the World, which draws on the 1843 prophecy of William Miller, and The Graysons, which fictionalizes a famous murder trial Abraham Lincoln won in 1858. Eggleston also wrote several works based on his personal experiences, like The Circuit Rider, about itinerant preachers. Eggleston contributed to children's magazines and played a significant role in editing The Little Corporal, Little Folks, and The Independent. He helped found the American Historical Association and served as its president in 1899. Eggleston passed away in 1902 at the age of 64 in Lake George, New York, where he lived at his summer home, Owl's Nest.
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