Amaryllis at the Fair · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Amaryllis at the Fair by Richard Jefferies.

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Chapter 1
Dedication
The book is dedicated to Charles Prestwich Scott.
Chapter 2
Epigraph
The chapter opens with a single line from the Greek poet Alcæus, serving as an epigraph that sets a tone of carpe diem and the fleeting nature of life.
Chapter 3
Amaryllis at the Fair
Amaryllis attends the fair, observing the crowd and experiencing a mix of wonder and alienation. She encounters various characters and feels the pull of different social worlds, reflecting on her own place between them.
Chapter 4
I
Amaryllis Iden discovers the first daffodil of spring and calls her father to see it. Mr. Iden reflects on the flower's connection to his great-uncle Richard, a remarkable ancestor who was both a poet and a successful businessman. Amaryllis struggles against the harsh east wind and later accompanies her father to his potato patch, pondering the paradox of his hard work and the family's poverty.
Chapter 5
II
Amaryllis returns indoors and is confronted by her mother, who criticizes her father's preoccupation with potatoes and old stories. Amaryllis retreats to her room, where she examines her ankles, feeling ashamed after other girls called them thick, but she rationalizes they are well-shaped and strong. She considers using macassar oil on her hair but fears her father's disapproval and hides the bottle. At dinner, strict silence is enforced by Mr. Iden, who dominates the meal with his talk about the quality of the mutton and potatoes, while Amaryllis and Mrs. Iden avoid praising the food to prevent being forced to eat more.

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Dedication

Epigraph

Amaryllis at the Fair

I

II