The Argosy

About this issue

The Argosy, Volume XLVII (January–June 1889), edited by Charles W. Wood, contains a diverse mix of fiction, travel writing, and verse. The principal serial narrative is "The Village Blacksmith," a multi-chapter story illustrated by William Small, which follows Reuben Foreman, a godly blacksmith in the village of Woodford. Reuben, a physically powerful Baptist and political radical, contrasts sharply with the Rector, Mr. Ryot Tempest, a small, prideful Anglican clergyman. The narrative explores tensions of class, faith, and personal dignity within rural English society. The issue also features Johnny Ludlow's (Mrs. Henry Wood's) serial "Featherston's Story: At the Maison Rouge," plus miscellaneous poems and short fiction by contributors including E. Nesbit, travel essays by Charles W. Wood on Malta and Rome, and satirical pieces on lending and other themes. The content reflects mid-Victorian literary tastes and periodical conventions.