Answer: I don't know of the book you read, but..
Authors use historical times and revise them in such a way it's believable, immersive, and informative. They make sure their use of history isn't changed into an outlandish fashion to fit the time it's set in. They usually do this because you can't go back in history and show them what happened, so you must create a fictional yet historical piece to preserve the time.
Answer:
Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" depicts a family road trip that ends horribly. The grandmother persuades her family to take a detour to go sightseeing. The Misfit, an escaped felon, pulls up with his comrades, and the grandmother blurts out that she recognizes him.
I’m pretty sure it’s a metaphor!
the poet refers to the 'wealth' of happiness and gaiety.
