The Rose of Summer with Oscar Wilde
The Novel Envelope, Vol. 1
Saturday Morning Serial is the weekend section of Library Binding. It’s a personal corner where I publish short stories, book reviews, and literary musings.
It’s not Saturday. It’s TUESDAY NIGHT. It’s been busy around here, but better late than never.
When I was in sixth grade, I took an after-school drama class. Yes, I was super cool back then.
My instructor paired me with the one other girl who could read fluently and assigned us a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest.
It was way too mature for us, but on performance night, we nailed it and made the audience laugh.
Correction: We didn’t make the audience laugh. Oscar Wilde did.
That performance was my first encounter with Oscar Wilde. I’ve only read his most famous work and a few of his fairy tales, so I’m not intimate with his writing or biography. I’m sure Wilde and I would disagree on many things about life, but when I read his short fable, “The Nightingale and the Rose,” I loved it.
Granted, I love fables, folktales, and fairy tales as a general rule. (If you do too, then here’s a summery podcast series you might like.)
But Wilde’s is a bittersweet tale, one that Hans Christian Andersen would’ve approved of. It’s beautiful and frustrating. It kept slipping into my thoughts days after I’d read it.
That’s why I selected it as the short story for the inaugural volume of The Novel Envelope, my brand-new snail mail subscription.
Subscribers received a hard copy of this story in their (physical) mailbox a week or so ago, and now, I want to give you all a peek into Vol. 1: The Rose of Summer.
If you want to read “The Nightingale and the Rose,” it’s in the public domain, so you can do that here.
3 Books that evoke summer
Every volume of The Novel Envelope includes a themed booklist. I shared 20+ books that capture summer on the page. Here are three titles from that list.
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
Vintage suspense. In dazzling Corfu, a young actress on summer holiday stumbles into a world of intrigue, danger, and forbidden romance. I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my list.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Historical, literary adventure. In 1950s America, four boys set out on an unforgettable road trip. Even though there is plenty of action, it’s the characters that make this one so memorable. Great for fans of Leif Enger.
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
Historical Romantic comedy. A clever young woman sets out to snag a rich husband in Regency England to save her family’s home. This is pure summer fun and worth an audiobook credit. (I did not like Irwin’s second book, though.)
Writing prompts, artsy outlets, and Shakespeare
In case you have no idea what The Novel Envelope is, it’s a paper packet that I design every month and send to your physical mailbox. Every volume delivers a classic short story, curated book list, surprise paper goodie, and more to your (real) mailbox.
The “more” includes…
reflection questions for the short story (nice for homeschoolers and book clubs)
a Shakespeare quote to memorize
a mini calendar of literary events happening that month
two writing prompts if you love an excuse to put pen to paper
a surprise goodie—this month, it was a pair of coloring pages.
The physical realm
In a world that’s losing touch with the tangible, I wanted to offer a few physical items inspired by each volume of The Novel Envelope. This, of course, is also a mercenary endeavor.
But, if you’re tired of all the generic T-shirts and mugs, then here you’ll find items that are strictly for insiders, the people who have read and who know. Oooh, how exclusive and snooty! 😊
Here’s the merch for Vol. 1: The Rose of Summer.
My shop is open to all. Subscribers to The Novel Envelope get a coupon for 25% off—a thank you from me to you!
Join me in this analog experience
In a nutshell, The Novel Envelope is slow mail for lovers of classic tales.
The monthly snail-mail subscription delivers a classic short story, curated book list, surprise paper goodie, and more to your (real) mailbox.
For $5 per month, you get to retreat into a soft, still analog space. I'll bring a classic author with me, and we'll share words and ideas across the miles.
Slow down. Savor a story. Write something by hand.
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. –Prov. 20:27
I’ll leave you with one irresistible indulgence—a lovely handmade bauble.
Your devoted,
Michelle
