영어로 읽는 고전 _ 에머슨 허프의 노래하는 쥐 이야기
"The Singing Mouse Stories"는 Emerson Hough가 1895년에 발표한 독특한 단편집으로, 노래하는 생쥐와 화자 사이의 대화를 통해 다양한 이야기를 들려주는 작품입니다.
이 책은 Hough의 다른 서부 소설들과는 매우 다른 성격을 보여주는 환상적이고 서정적인 작품입니다. 밤마다 찾아오는 노래하는 생쥐가 들려주는 이야기들을 통해, 자연과 인간, 삶과 꿈에 대한 깊은 성찰을 담아냅니다.
작품은 동화적 상상력과 철학적 사유를 결합하여, 일상의 작은 순간들에 대한 아름다운 통찰을 제공합니다. 특히 생쥐의 노래와 이야기를 통해 전달되는 자연의 신비로움과 삶의 의미에 대한 사색은 어른과 아이 모두에게 깊은 감동을 전합니다.
이 단편집은 Hough의 섬세한 문학적 감성과 풍부한 상상력을 보여주는 작품으로 평가받고 있습니다. 서부 작가로 알려진 그의 또 다른 면모를 발견할 수 있는 독특한 작품으로, 문학사적으로도 의미 있는 위치를 차지하고 있습니다.

Classics in English _ The Singing Mouse Stories by Emerson Hough
"The Singing Mouse Stories" is a unique collection of short stories published by Emerson Hough in 1895, which tells various stories through conversations between a singing mouse and a narrator.
This book is a fantastic and lyrical work that shows a very different character from Hough's other western novels. Through the stories told by the singing mouse that comes every night, it contains deep reflections on nature, humans, life, and dreams.
The work combines fairytale imagination and philosophical thinking to provide beautiful insights into small moments in everyday life. In particular, the mysteriousness of nature and contemplation on the meaning of life conveyed through the mouse's songs and stories deeply move both adults and children.
This collection of short stories is evaluated as a work that shows Hough's delicate literary sensibility and rich imagination. It is a unique work that allows us to discover another side of him known as a western writer, and it also holds a meaningful place in literary history.

Summary
"The Singing Mouse Stories" by Emerson Hough is a collection of whimsical and philosophical tales woven with elements of fantasy, written in the early 20th century. The narratives center on a mysterious singing mouse and its ability to transport the protagonist into enchanting realms of memory, peace, and introspection, providing reflections on life, nature, and human experience. At the start of the collection, the narrator introduces a setting that serves as his sanctuary, where he regularly communes with the enchanting Singing Mouse. The mouse, a diminutive yet powerful character, sings songs that evoke vivid imagery and emotions, taking the narrator on a journey through idyllic landscapes and timeless memories. Through its song, the mouse reveals themes of nostalgia, the beauty of nature, and the deep bonds of friendship. The opening portion sets the tone for a series of stories that promise a blend of magic and philosophical musings, inviting readers to explore their own memories and the world around them.

Contents
The Land of the Singing Mouse
The Burden of a Song
The Little River
What the Waters Said
Lake Belle-Marie
The Skull and the Rose
The Man of the Mountain
At the Place of the Oaks
The Birth of the Hours
The Stone That Had No Thought
The Tear and the Smile
How the Mountains Ate Up the Plains
The Savage and Its Heart
The Beast Terrible
The Passing of Men
The House of Truth
Where the City Went
The Bell and the Shadows
Of the Greatest Sorrow
The Shoes of the Princess
Of White Moths
The House of Dreams