The turbulent Thirties, and across Europe cry the discordant voices of hunger and death, most notably in Spain, where a civil war rages. Aspiring writer, Marcus Hendrycks, has had a safe, cloistered existence in Cambridge, but joins the fight against the fascists. He discovers that life itself is the real schoolroom.

As winter arrives and the local school closes until summer, the Fairchild children continue their schooling in the parlor with the oldest, Althy, teaching.

A fresh and provocative approach to the popular schoolroom poets and the reading public who learned them by heart.

Emily is nervous before her first day of school, but she has such a good time that she cannot wait until the second day. Includes note to parents.