"Ranson's Folly" by Richard Harding Davis is an adventurous and dramatic novel set against a backdrop of social intrigue and romantic entanglements. The story follows the life of the protagonist, Ranson, whose decisions and actions drive the plot forward. The novel incorporates elements of adventure, taking readers through exciting and sometimes perilous situations that challenge the characters. At its core, the story explores romantic relationships, with Ranson's personal life and love interests playing a significant role in the narrative. The romantic subplot is intertwined with the main adventure and drama. The novel is rich in drama, focusing on emotional conflicts and personal dilemmas faced by the characters. These dramatic elements are central to the plot and contribute to the story's depth.
The book examines social class and societal expectations, reflecting the norms and tensions of the time. The characters’ interactions often highlight issues related to class and social standing. There are elements of military life and conflict in the story, reflecting Davis’s interest in military themes. These aspects add to the adventure and drama, shaping the characters’ experiences and decisions. "Ranson's Folly" combines adventure, romance, and drama with a focus on societal issues and character relationships, offering a compelling narrative.
Richard Harding Davis was an American journalist, fiction and drama writer who is best remembered for becoming the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and WWI. His writing considerably helped Theodore Roosevelt's political career. He also played a significant effect in the evolution of American magazines. His impact extended to the world of fashion, and he is credited with popularizing the clean-shaven style among males at the start of the twentieth century. Davis was born April 18, 1864, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother, Rebecca Harding Davis, was a well-known writer in her day. His father, Lemuel Clarke Davis, was a journalist, who edited Philadelphia Public Ledger. Davis attended Episcopal Academy, when he was a young man. After an unsatisfactory year at Swarthmore College, Davis relocated to Lehigh University, where his uncle, H. Wilson Harding, was a professor. Davis' first book, a collection of short stories titled The Adventures of My Freshman (1884), was published while he was at Lehigh. Many of the tales had previously appeared in the student magazine, the Lehigh Burr. Davis attended Johns Hopkins University, after transferring in 1885.
