The House Without Windows
What is The House Without Windows about?
The House Without Windows (1927) was written by Barbara Newhall Follett when she was nine years old and published when she was twelve. It tells the story of Eepersip, a young girl who escapes from her parents' home to live freely in nature—among meadows, mountains, seas, and forests—eventually transforming into a nature spirit. The novel is a remarkable achievement of childhood imagination, expressing a longing for freedom and unity with the natural world that feels both intensely personal and mythically resonant. Written with a lyricism extraordinary for a child, it reads as a fable about the desire to escape human limitations.
Main themes in The House Without Windows
Nature Fantasy
The theme of nature fantasy weaves through The House Without Windows, adding depth to its narrative.
Childhood Freedom
In The House Without Windows, childhood freedom provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Transformation
The presence of transformation in The House Without Windows connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Nature Mysticism
Nature Mysticism emerges as a defining element in The House Without Windows, shaping character development.
Why The House Without Windows is still relevant today
This extraordinary novel by a child prodigy has experienced a literary revival, recognized as a unique work that captures childhood's imaginative power and a poignant yearning for freedom in nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The House Without Windows about?
A young girl named Eepersip escapes to live freely in nature, eventually transforming into a nature spirit. Written by a nine-year-old prodigy.
How old was Barbara Newhall Follett when she wrote this?
She wrote the original at age nine. After a fire destroyed the manuscript, she rewrote it, and it was published when she was twelve.
Where can I read The House Without Windows online?
You can read it free on TextStack.