Three Lives and Tender Buttons

Three Lives and Tender Buttons Synopsis

First published in 1909, Gerturde Stein's "e;Three Lives"e; is a series of novellas, three independent stories set in the fictional town of Bridgepoint. The first story, "e;The Good Anna"e;, relates the tale of Anna Federner, a servant in the household of Miss Mathilda, who clashes with four unreliable under servants, Lizzie, Molly, Katy, and Sallie. The second story, "e;Melanctha"e;, the longest of the three stories, tells the tale of a girl of mixed race who is dissatisfied with her role in the segregated town of Bridgepoint. The third story, "e;The Gentle Lena"e;, follows the life and death of the titular Lena, a German girl brought to Bridgepoint by a cousin, beginning with her life as a servant girl, followed by her marriage to Herman Kreder, which ultimately leads to a tragic conclusion. Along with "e;Three Lives"e; this volumes includes one of Gertrude Stein's most famous works, "e;Tender Buttons"e;, a 1914 book of modernist poetry consisting of three sections titled "e;Objects"e;, "e;Food"e;, and "e;Rooms"e;.

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