Moods

“Mood(s)” is a novel by the American writer Louisa May Alcott, first published in 1864. It is a coming-of-age story about Sylvia Yule—a young woman learning to cope with the surprises of adult life and trying to understand where she belongs. On the pages of the book, the heroine goes through a whole spectrum of feelings—from love and jealousy to sorrow and joy—an echo of what the title reflects.

Sylvia Yule is a girl from a well-to-do family, living a calm, familiar life alongside her sister Pru and her brother Mark. Everything changes when two men enter her circle: the poet Jeffrey Moore—refined, sensitive, and faithful—and Adam Warwick—a strong, passionate, and mysterious man with a complicated past. At first, Sylvia sees Moore merely as a close friend, failing to notice the depth of his feelings, while Warwick stirs in her a vague but irresistible excitement. During a river trip organized by Mark and his friends, Sylvia draws closer to both men, though it is Warwick who truly captivates her—with his independence and inner power.

Moore confesses his love for Sylvia, but receives a refusal: she believes she can respond to him only with friendship. Soon Sylvia learns that Warwick is engaged to someone else—Ottilie—and the revelation brings her pain and jealousy. Seeking support and peace, she accepts Moore’s proposal and becomes his wife, hoping that tenderness and devotion will help her find harmony. But Warwick returns to her life again—and the feelings Sylvia tried to suppress flare up with renewed strength. Realizing that her pull toward Warwick is stronger than her attachment to her husband, she finds herself faced with a difficult choice between duty and desire.

First translated into Russian!