Who doesn’t enjoy a little escapist literature now and then? Serial stories in Washington’s territorial newspapers provided much-needed relief for early pioneers. Whether settlers craved romance, civilization, or wealth, it was all there for the reading.

Consider these titles: A Girl’s Mistake, Between Four Walls, The Other Englishman, Miss Clare, and Mrs. Gainsborough’s Diamonds. Stories often featured young women navigating social and romantic liaisons. Those ending successfully proved that moral virtue was rewarded. Conversely, failed relationships warned readers not to challenge society’s mores.

Pioneers lived vicariously through the characters’ luxuries, quandaries, and griefs. The stories recalled a time and place from which many had traveled, hoping to better themselves in the West. Perhaps the tales’ societal ideals filled a moral or cultural gap felt by the settlers in the frequently lawless frontier.

Another theme featured intrigue and adventure among the wealthy – reminiscent of the television series Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Also popular were tales of military bravery and exploit, as in Two Soldiers (6 parts) 2 3 4 5 6.

Serials novels began in England with the publication of “London Spy” in 1698, and became more widespread in the Victorian Era beginning with Charles Dickens’ installments of the Pickwick Papers in 1836. Gaining in popularity over the next fifty years, they often lasted months and sometimes years before resolving their complicated plots. Shorter versions appeared in American newspapers, designed to attract a broader readership and larger subscriptions.

For your enjoyment:
A Girl’s Mistake 2 3 4
Between Four Walls 2 3
Dunraven Ranch A Story of American Frontier Life (11 parts) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Miss Clare 2 3
The Other Englishman 2

Tags: newspapers

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