Henry Van Dyke
The ruling passion: Tales of nature and human nature presents a collection of short stories that delve into the forces driving human emotion and behavior. Each tale reveals how the desires that govern the heart-whether love, ambition, or devotion-shape the way people engage with one another and the natural world. The work opens with a reflective introduction in which the writer contemplates the moral purpose of storytelling, seeking to craft narratives that capture sincerity and feeling. Through these stories, nature becomes a mirror for the human spirit, reflecting moments of joy, struggle, and awakening. The collection explores how passion both uplifts and complicates life, turning ordinary experiences into moments of meaning and transformation. The tales move fluidly between contemplation and gentle humor, illustrating how the pursuit of passion defines the human condition. In its blending of emotional honesty and reverence for nature, the book captures the quiet grandeur of life’s most enduring impulses.
