THAT HOMETOWN FEELING by EDNA FERBER

From 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age by Jon Hagadorn Podcast Host

February 22, 2026 · 29 min

About this episode

The episode explores the tension between the allure of the big city and the pull of one's hometown through Edna Ferber's story 'That Hometown Feeling'.

Jon is back narrating 3 episodes per week, some old,some new- all great stories! Check out the answer to the question "Who coined the term "Gilded Age" below.... THAT HOMETOWN FEELING (FROM THE COLLECTION "BUTTERED SIDE DOWN" Published in the 1912 collection Buttered Side Down, this story captures the tension between the allure of the big city and the persistent pull of one's roots. The Summary: The story centers on characters who have moved away from their small towns to find success in the city, only to discover that the "hometown feeling" is something they can never quite outrun. It focuses on the humorous and sometimes bittersweet interactions of people trying to reconcile their new, sophisticated identities with their humbler beginnings. The Hook: Ferber masterfully explores the idea of nostalgia as a double-edged sword. For your listeners, you might frame it as: Is the "hometown feeling" a warm embrace or a trap that keeps us from moving forward? About Edna Ferber (1885–1968) Edna Ferber was a powerhouse of early 20th-century literature. Though she is often associated with the later "Roaring Twenties," her early career and upbringing were deeply rooted in the end of the…

People in this episode

Host: Jon Hagadorn

Topics covered

nostalgia
identity
small town vs big city
literature
Gilded Age

Keywords

Gilded Age
Edna Ferber
hometown feeling
literature
nostalgia
identity
Buttered Side Down

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: THAT HOMETOWN FEELING, BUTTERED SIDE DOWN