Index for The Golden Book of Springfield by Vachel Lindsay

Summary:

"The Golden Book of Springfield" by Vachel Lindsay is a work of fiction written in the early 20th century. This narrative serves as a blend of prose and poetic introspection set against the backdrop of Springfield, Illinois, exploring the evolution of society through a fantastical lens that connects the year 1920 to visions of 2018. The book focuses on characters like David Carson, a young minister, and several of his neighbors—including a florist and a socialite—who engage in discussions about their town and its potential futures, revealing their aspirations for societal change and communal unity. The opening of the narrative introduces the characters and the setting, specifically highlighting the members of the "Prognosticator's Club," who envision the future of Springfield in the year 2018. David Carson, the minister, contemplates his dreams and aspirations, describing a potential utopia where people, inspired by figures like Johnny Appleseed, connect with nature and each other through a deeper understanding of community values. The characters develop a rich sense of identity, drawing on historical roots and social aspirations, while Lindsay's narrative intertwines fantasy elements with social commentary, setting the stage for a transformative exploration of ideals and human connection in an evolving world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

• The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Golden Book of Springfield
• THE GOLDEN BOOK OF SPRINGFIELD
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• THE PROGNOSTICATOR’S CLUB
• CHAPTER ITHE CAMPBELLITE, THE FLORIST AND THE HOSTESS
• CHAPTER IITHE PROGNOSTICATOR’S CLUB
• CHAPTER IIIHOW PEOPLE OF 1920 THINK THE GOLDEN BOOK WILL COME IN 2018
• CHAPTER IVHISTORY OF THE MICHAELS FROM 1920 TO 2018
• CHAPTER VI ENTER INTO THE NEW SPRINGFIELD OF 2018. I AM SNUBBED BY AVANEL, SHE RELENTS, SHOWING ME MANY PANORAMAS OF NEW SPRINGFIELD. WE CONFESS TO HAVING THE SAME DREAM OF DEVIL’S GOLD.
• CHAPTER VITHE TWO FACTIONS:—MAYOR SLICK SLACK KOPENSKY AND HIS BOSS, MAYO SIMS;VERSUSBOONE, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
• CHAPTER VIIFURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE POLITICAL MACHINERY, INCLUDING THE CITY HALL DRAG NET OF DRUG STORES, COFFEE HOUSES AND DANCE HALLS.
• CHAPTER VIIITHE NEW SPRINGFIELD FLAG AND THE STAR PLAN MAP FOR WHICH IT STANDS, INCLUDING THE DOUBLE WALLS ON THE FAR BORDERS OF THE CITY, BUILT LONG AGO BY RALPH ADAMS CRAM.
• CHAPTER IXTEMPEST IN A TEAPOT OVER WHETHER PEOPLE WITH BURIED GOLD SHALL MONOPOLIZE THE FLYING PRIVILEGE.
• CHAPTER XTHE END OF THE FLYING MACHINE RIOTS, PANICS, ALARUMS AND EXCURSIONS.
• CHAPTER XIMATTERS TOUCHING ST. FRIEND, THE GIVER OF BREAD, AND HIS ORDER OF THE STRICT OBSERVANCE AND HIS ORDER OF THE LIBERAL OBSERVANCE.
• CHAPTER XIIHOW THROUGH SERMONS BY ST. FRIEND AND BY POLITICAL ACTIVITY, SUCH AS THAT OF SURTO HURDENBURG, THE YELLOW DANCE HALLS ARE VOTED OUT FOR GOOD.
• CHAPTER XIIIHOW BLUE-FACED SURTO HURDENBURG IS LYNCHED. HOW THE TOWN SWEEPS ON INTO THE GLORIES OF SUMMER AND JUNE BRIDES AND THE GORGEOUSNESS OF THE TOWERS FROM NIGHTFALL TILL MIDNIGHT. HOW MY LOVE AND I ARE AGAIN ENSNARED BY DEVIL’S GOLD.
• CHAPTER XIVHOW I MAKE CERTAIN EXPLORATIONS OF THE GREAT DEEP. HOW I LATER FIND MYSELF THE MALAY SLAVE OF THE MAN FROM SINGAPORE AND THEREBY GET AN ENTIRELY NEW ANGLE ON NEW SPRINGFIELD.
• CHAPTER XVHOW AS A MALAY I WITNESS THE CONVERSION OF YOUNG KOPENSKY TO THE COCAINE BUDDHA, LATER WHEN I AM MY AMERICAN SELF THE THIBETAN BOY TAKES ME BEYOND THE NORTH STAR AND SHOWS ME THE TRUE BUDDHA.
• CHAPTER XVITHE RETURN OF SENATOR JOSEPH BARTHOLDI MICHAEL FROM THE WORLD GOVERNMENT TO SPRINGFIELD. HIS CONVERSE OF HIGH IMPORT WITH A JAPANESE ELDER STATESMAN WHO IS A COMMISSIONER TO OUR WORLD’S FAIR.
• CHAPTER XVIIHOW IN THE LATTER PART OF JULY BLACK HAWK BOONE IS OPENLY LYNCHED AND JAMES KOPENSKY MYSTERIOUSLY STABBED ON THE SAME EVENING. HOW THREE MONTHS LATER THERE IS NO SIGN THAT EITHER MURDER WILL BE PUNISHED. HOW THE GOLDEN BOOK APPEARS ON THE MYSTIC DAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018 AND HOW, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE MOURNING AVANEL, SHE TAKES COURAGE AND LEADS HER PEOPLE AGAINST SINGAPORE, THAT WICKED NATION, THAT HAS DECLARED WAR ON THE WORLD FLAG.
• CHAPTER XVIIIHOW SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE MYSTIC YEAR ST. FRIEND AND AVANEL READ FROM A COPY OF THE GOLDEN BOOK AND HOW HE TELLS HIS VISION THAT CAME THE DAY THE BOOK FIRST APPEARED. ON OTHER DAYS THE LADY AVANEL SOWS THE THISTLE OF DREAMS AND THE APPLE AMARANTH SEEDS AND THE ACORNS OF EZEKIEL AND THE SEEDS OF THE GOLDEN RAIN TREE AND THEREBY COME NEW VISIONS AND TEACHINGS AND MAGIC WORKS.
• CHAPTER XIXHOW AT THE END OF ALL THESE WORKS AND DAYS, AVANEL AND I RISE IN A BOAT THROUGH THE AIR, FOLLOWING THE GREAT NEW AMARANTH VINE FROM CAMP LINCOLN TO THE PARAPETS OF HEAVEN. HOW WE TRACE ITS BANYAN-LIKE BRANCHES THROUGH THE JUNGLES OF HEAVEN, AND HOW WE DEFY THE HANDSOME MEDICINE MAN, DEVIL’S GOLD, AND HOW, LATER, WE FIND THE EMPTY SACK OF JOHNNY APPLESEED. HOW I RETURN TO FIFTH AND MONROE AND AVANEL IS ONE HUNDRED YEARS AWAY.
• THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
• Chapter 25

Back to HOME (ALL BOOKS)