What do you think?
Rate this book
Opening a Chestnut Burr
This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1874
11 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Edward Payson Roe
213 books14 followersReverend Edward Payson Roe (1838-1888) was an American novelist born in Moodna, Orange County, New York. He studied at Williams College and at Auburn Theological Seminary. In 1862 he became chaplain of the Second New York Cavalry, U.S. V., and in 1864 chaplain of Hampton Hospital, in Virginia. In 1866-74 he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Highland Falls, New York. In 1874 he moved to Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, where he devoted himself to the writing of fiction and to horticulture. During the American Civil War he wrote weekly letters to the New York Evangelist, and subsequently lectured on the war and wrote for periodicals. Amongst his works are Barriers Burned Away (1872), What Can She Do? (1873), Opening a Chestnut Burr (1874), Near to Nature's Heart (1876), A Face Illumined (1878), Success with Small Fruits (1880), A Day of Fate (1880), Without a Home (1881), An Unexpected Result (1883), His Sombre Rivals (1884), A Young Girl's Wooing (1884), An Original Belle (1885), He Fell in Love with His Wife (1886), Driven Back to Eden (1886) and The Earth Trembled (1887).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 12, 2022
I LOVED this book! I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for something sweet, wholesome, encouraging and faith building! 🥰
June 16, 2024
Opening a Chestnut Burr by Edward Payson Roe sent me back to my childhood and my parents horse chestnut trees in our back yard. Side yard would be more like it I guess, one on each side. Just open the fallen shell, a burr I guess it is called, something I never knew before, and there you would have a brown chestnut. A horse chestnut and I have no idea why they are called that. There's only one of the trees left there anymore, but it's still there and in a few months there will be chestnuts all over the yard once again, I just won't be there to gather them up, it's not our yard anymore.
As for the chestnut burr in our book, all I can say for sure is I am extremely confused. I read two short descriptions of this book before I read it, neither one makes any sense now that I'm finished. The first said this:
Opening a Chestnut Burr is a heartwarming novel of family life and small-town values, written by popular American author Edward Payson Roe. The book tells the story of a young couple, Arthur and May Forbes, as they navigate the challenges of marriage and parenthood in late-19th century America. The book is full of memorable characters and touching moments, and provides a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone era.
I'm not sure who Arthur and May Forbes are, but they aren't in my book. Then there is this slightly longer description:
""Opening A Chestnut Burr"" is a novel written by E.P. Roe. The story revolves around the life of a young man named Hugh Winthrop, who is the only son of a wealthy businessman. Hugh is a kind-hearted and intelligent individual who is eager to make a name for himself in the world. However, his father has other plans for him and wants him to take over the family business. Despite his father's wishes, Hugh decides to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. He moves to New York and begins to work as a journalist. Along the way, he meets a beautiful and intelligent woman named Hester Grayson, who becomes his muse and inspiration. As Hugh becomes more successful in his career, he also faces challenges and obstacles. He must navigate the cut-throat world of journalism and deal with the jealousy of his colleagues. Meanwhile, Hester's father disapproves of their relationship and tries to keep them apart. Throughout the novel, Hugh and Hester's love for each other is tested, but they remain committed to each other.
I really hope things work out for Hugh Winthrop and Hester Grayson and also for Arthur and May Forbes, but since none of them were in my book I don't know how it will end up for them. In my book I have Walter Gregory, who everyone calls Gregory not Walter, or Hugh or Arthur for that matter. The first line in the book is:
"Shall I ever be strong in mind or body again?" said Walter Gregory, with irritation, as he entered a crowded Broadway omnibus.
And that is the hero of our story speaking. He is described as being not far from thirty years of age, but the lines of care were furrowed so deeply on his handsome face that he seemed much older. He is tall and thin. His face is white and drawn, there is scarcely anything remaining to remind one of the period of youth, so recently vanished. Walter Gregory looked like one who had early found the dregs of evil life very bitter. And so he sits in his office with a dogged resolution to work whether he felt like it or not, with disregard of his physical weakness. He sits there bent over his writing, rather from weakness than a stooping habit, his senior partner comes in and is struck by the appearance of his young partner. We now find out what is wrong with Gregory:
At last Mr. Burnett came and laid his hand on his junior partner's shoulder, saying, kindly, "Come, Gregory, drop your work. You are ill. The strain upon you has been too long and severe. The worst is over now, and we are going to pull through better than I expected. Don't take the matter so bitterly to heart. I admit myself that the operation promised well at first. You were misled, and so were we all, by downright deception. That the swindle was imposed on us through you was more your misfortune than your fault, and it will make you a keener business man in the future. You have worked like a galley-slave all summer to retrieve matters, and have taken no vacation at all. You must take one now immediately, or you will break down altogether. Go off to the woods; fish, hunt, follow your fancies; and the bracing October air will make a new man of you."
"I thank you very much," Gregory began. "I suppose I do need rest. In a few days, however, I can leave better--"
"No," interrupted Mr. Burnett, with hearty emphasis; "drop everything. As soon as you finish that letter, be off. Don't show your face here again till November."
"I thank you for your interest in me," said Gregory, rising. "Indeed, I believe it would be good economy, for if I don't feel better soon I shall be of no use here or anywhere else."
"That's it," said old Mr. Burnett, kindly. "Sick and blue, they go together. Now be off to the woods, and send me some game. I won't inquire too sharply whether you brought it down with lead or silver."
Gregory soon left the office, and made his arrangements to start on his trip early the next morning. His purpose was to make a brief visit to the home of his boyhood and then to go wherever a vagrant fancy might lead.
And that's where Gregory goes. Back to the home where he grew up. The home now owned by an old friend of his father. And there he falls in love with Annie Walton, that friend's daughter. But Annie is already in love with someone else. That takes us back to that swindle, Gregory had a friend, a man he trusted with his life, or at least that's what he told his partner when he got him to go along with a plan Mr. Hunting, the great friend, had told Gregory about:
Usually Mr. Hunting was very quiet and self-possessed, but one evening in May he came into Gregory's rooms in a manner indicating not a little excitement and elation.
"Gregory!" he exclaimed, "I am going to make my fortune."
"Make your fortune! You are as rich as Croesus now."
"The past will be as nothing. I've struck a mine rather than a vein."
"It's a pity some of your friends could not share in your luck."
"Well, a few can. This is so large, and such a good thing, that I have concluded to let a few intimates go in with me. Only all must keep very quiet about it;" and he proposed an operation that seemed certain of success as he explained it.
Gregory concluded to put into it nearly all he had independent of his investment in the firm, and also obtained permission to interest his partners, and to procure an interview between them and Mr. Hunting.
The scheme looked so very plausible that they were drawn into it also; but Mr. Burnett took Gregory aside and said: "After all, we must place a great deal of confidence in Mr. Hunting's word in this matter. Are you satisfied that we can safely do so?"
"I would stake my life on his word in this case," said Gregory, eagerly, "and I pledge all I have put in the firm on his truth."
This was the last flicker of his old enthusiasm and trust in anybody or anything, including himself. With almost the skill of genius Mr. Hunting adroitly, within the limits of the law, swindled them all, and made a vast profit out of their losses. The transaction was not generally known, but even some of the hardened gamblers of the street said "it was too bad."
But the bank-officers with whom Burnett & Co. did business knew about it, and if it had not been for their lenience and aid the firm would have failed. As it was, it required a struggle of months to regain the solid ground of safety.
And that is the man Annie is planning on marrying. And she is determined to make Gregory and Hunting friends. She can tell they don't like each other, but doesn't know why. And on we go, Mr. Walton, Hunting, Annie, Gregory, and lots of chestnut burrs. They manage to work chestnut burrs into the story more than I would have thought possible. They didn't work Hugh Winthrop and Hester Grayson or Arthur and May into it though. I don't know where they came from. And that's why I leave the book just as confused as when I started. On to the next book.
As for the chestnut burr in our book, all I can say for sure is I am extremely confused. I read two short descriptions of this book before I read it, neither one makes any sense now that I'm finished. The first said this:
Opening a Chestnut Burr is a heartwarming novel of family life and small-town values, written by popular American author Edward Payson Roe. The book tells the story of a young couple, Arthur and May Forbes, as they navigate the challenges of marriage and parenthood in late-19th century America. The book is full of memorable characters and touching moments, and provides a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone era.
I'm not sure who Arthur and May Forbes are, but they aren't in my book. Then there is this slightly longer description:
""Opening A Chestnut Burr"" is a novel written by E.P. Roe. The story revolves around the life of a young man named Hugh Winthrop, who is the only son of a wealthy businessman. Hugh is a kind-hearted and intelligent individual who is eager to make a name for himself in the world. However, his father has other plans for him and wants him to take over the family business. Despite his father's wishes, Hugh decides to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. He moves to New York and begins to work as a journalist. Along the way, he meets a beautiful and intelligent woman named Hester Grayson, who becomes his muse and inspiration. As Hugh becomes more successful in his career, he also faces challenges and obstacles. He must navigate the cut-throat world of journalism and deal with the jealousy of his colleagues. Meanwhile, Hester's father disapproves of their relationship and tries to keep them apart. Throughout the novel, Hugh and Hester's love for each other is tested, but they remain committed to each other.
I really hope things work out for Hugh Winthrop and Hester Grayson and also for Arthur and May Forbes, but since none of them were in my book I don't know how it will end up for them. In my book I have Walter Gregory, who everyone calls Gregory not Walter, or Hugh or Arthur for that matter. The first line in the book is:
"Shall I ever be strong in mind or body again?" said Walter Gregory, with irritation, as he entered a crowded Broadway omnibus.
And that is the hero of our story speaking. He is described as being not far from thirty years of age, but the lines of care were furrowed so deeply on his handsome face that he seemed much older. He is tall and thin. His face is white and drawn, there is scarcely anything remaining to remind one of the period of youth, so recently vanished. Walter Gregory looked like one who had early found the dregs of evil life very bitter. And so he sits in his office with a dogged resolution to work whether he felt like it or not, with disregard of his physical weakness. He sits there bent over his writing, rather from weakness than a stooping habit, his senior partner comes in and is struck by the appearance of his young partner. We now find out what is wrong with Gregory:
At last Mr. Burnett came and laid his hand on his junior partner's shoulder, saying, kindly, "Come, Gregory, drop your work. You are ill. The strain upon you has been too long and severe. The worst is over now, and we are going to pull through better than I expected. Don't take the matter so bitterly to heart. I admit myself that the operation promised well at first. You were misled, and so were we all, by downright deception. That the swindle was imposed on us through you was more your misfortune than your fault, and it will make you a keener business man in the future. You have worked like a galley-slave all summer to retrieve matters, and have taken no vacation at all. You must take one now immediately, or you will break down altogether. Go off to the woods; fish, hunt, follow your fancies; and the bracing October air will make a new man of you."
"I thank you very much," Gregory began. "I suppose I do need rest. In a few days, however, I can leave better--"
"No," interrupted Mr. Burnett, with hearty emphasis; "drop everything. As soon as you finish that letter, be off. Don't show your face here again till November."
"I thank you for your interest in me," said Gregory, rising. "Indeed, I believe it would be good economy, for if I don't feel better soon I shall be of no use here or anywhere else."
"That's it," said old Mr. Burnett, kindly. "Sick and blue, they go together. Now be off to the woods, and send me some game. I won't inquire too sharply whether you brought it down with lead or silver."
Gregory soon left the office, and made his arrangements to start on his trip early the next morning. His purpose was to make a brief visit to the home of his boyhood and then to go wherever a vagrant fancy might lead.
And that's where Gregory goes. Back to the home where he grew up. The home now owned by an old friend of his father. And there he falls in love with Annie Walton, that friend's daughter. But Annie is already in love with someone else. That takes us back to that swindle, Gregory had a friend, a man he trusted with his life, or at least that's what he told his partner when he got him to go along with a plan Mr. Hunting, the great friend, had told Gregory about:
Usually Mr. Hunting was very quiet and self-possessed, but one evening in May he came into Gregory's rooms in a manner indicating not a little excitement and elation.
"Gregory!" he exclaimed, "I am going to make my fortune."
"Make your fortune! You are as rich as Croesus now."
"The past will be as nothing. I've struck a mine rather than a vein."
"It's a pity some of your friends could not share in your luck."
"Well, a few can. This is so large, and such a good thing, that I have concluded to let a few intimates go in with me. Only all must keep very quiet about it;" and he proposed an operation that seemed certain of success as he explained it.
Gregory concluded to put into it nearly all he had independent of his investment in the firm, and also obtained permission to interest his partners, and to procure an interview between them and Mr. Hunting.
The scheme looked so very plausible that they were drawn into it also; but Mr. Burnett took Gregory aside and said: "After all, we must place a great deal of confidence in Mr. Hunting's word in this matter. Are you satisfied that we can safely do so?"
"I would stake my life on his word in this case," said Gregory, eagerly, "and I pledge all I have put in the firm on his truth."
This was the last flicker of his old enthusiasm and trust in anybody or anything, including himself. With almost the skill of genius Mr. Hunting adroitly, within the limits of the law, swindled them all, and made a vast profit out of their losses. The transaction was not generally known, but even some of the hardened gamblers of the street said "it was too bad."
But the bank-officers with whom Burnett & Co. did business knew about it, and if it had not been for their lenience and aid the firm would have failed. As it was, it required a struggle of months to regain the solid ground of safety.
And that is the man Annie is planning on marrying. And she is determined to make Gregory and Hunting friends. She can tell they don't like each other, but doesn't know why. And on we go, Mr. Walton, Hunting, Annie, Gregory, and lots of chestnut burrs. They manage to work chestnut burrs into the story more than I would have thought possible. They didn't work Hugh Winthrop and Hester Grayson or Arthur and May into it though. I don't know where they came from. And that's why I leave the book just as confused as when I started. On to the next book.
January 5, 2021
I usually enjoy this author, but this simply isn't his best. Like all his books, this story is meant to reinforce the author's particular style of Christianity and the gender roles of the time. The romance aspect is predictable in the extreme. There's not necessarily anything wrong with those things, of course. The issue is that the novel often turns into outright musings and sermons, to the point where you could skip up to 2 pages at a time at several points and not miss a single bit of plot, dialogue, scene description, or character development. There's also a major pacing problem: the first 75% of the book moves at a glacial pace, and the last 25% (when the book gets truly interesting) moves too fast. The male lead isn't likeable for the vast majority of the book, yet it centers around him and his perspective. I can't say I recommend this book unless you've read many more by this author and just have to have more. A Young Girl's Wooing and An Original Belle are also by E P Roe and have a decidedly Christian viewpoint, and they're much better.
Read
January 22, 2009Couldn't get through it. Too unbearably and intractably tractate for my taste.
December 30, 2015
A deeply Christian story with a thoroughly delightful ending. There's a good bit of romance and outdoors.
Want to read
April 10, 2020I can’t wait to read this. It’s been passed down in my family since (my ancestor wrote on the inside cover) October 13, 1911 when his mother gave it to him. If it’s lasted this long in the family, he must’ve loved it. I cannot wait to read something that “Guy” had read...
Also, I have the 1902 edition and Goodreads does not recognize it in the scanner and this edition obviously does not have a barcode.
Also, I have the 1902 edition and Goodreads does not recognize it in the scanner and this edition obviously does not have a barcode.
May 31, 2024
A mix of a Gene Stratton Porter and Louisa May Alcott. Lots of nature walks and discussions, while the main hero begins to waken to the fact he is not at all what he would like to be.
September 21, 2009
This book brought some tears to my eyes. It was a bit preachy, but nothing I didn't agree with. I liked this quote: "One weakness, one wrong prepares the way of another as surely as when one soldier gets within the city he will open the gates to others; and Annie's temper that she had so long and prayerfully schooled, was the weak point inevitably assailed. She was found with her armor off. She had closed the preceding day and entered on the present with the form and not the reality of prayer."
September 11, 2019
Refreshing Read
This author is such a refreshing read. He writes with great insight into the heart of his characters. Though he wrote over a century ago, the reader quickly realizes that humanity has not changed. The wheat and the tares grow up together.
This author is such a refreshing read. He writes with great insight into the heart of his characters. Though he wrote over a century ago, the reader quickly realizes that humanity has not changed. The wheat and the tares grow up together.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews