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Article: "It could have been any street": Ann Petry, Stephen Crane, and the fate of naturalism.(Critical essay)
- Article from:
- Studies in American Fiction
- Article date:
- March 22, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Northeastern University. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In the famous opening scene of his first novella, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, published in 1893, Stephen Crane writes:
A very tittle boy stood upon a heap of gravel for the honor of
Rum Alley. He was throwing stones at howling urchins from
Devil's Row who were circling madly about the heap and pelting
at him.
His infantile countenance was livid with fury. His small body
was writhing in the delivery of great, crimson oaths.
"Run, Jimmie, run! Dey'll get yehs," screamed a retreating
Rum Alley child.
"Naw," responded Jimmie with a valiant roar, "dese micks
can't make me run." (1)
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