The Fourth Generation by Walter Besant
"The Fourth Generation" by Sir Walter Besant is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story explores themes of family legacy, ancestral burdens, and the consequences of one’s heritage. At its center is the character of Leonard Campaigne, who is confronted with the eccentricity of his great-grandfather, a recluse, and begins to uncover the hidden misfortunes that have befallen his family over generations. The opening of the novel introduces astark and desolate March morning, where the protagonist’s great-grandfather walks the terrace of his grand but decaying estate in solitude. As Leonard reflects on his ancestor's peculiar and isolated existence, he is simultaneously engrossed in his own ambitions and doubts about family legacy. The narrative reveals that the old man has lived a life devoid of outside interaction for nearly seventy years, suggesting a deeper story of loss tied to past events. The chapter culminates with Leonard's visit, eliciting a complex mix of emotions, as he comes to terms with the weight of his family's history—a tapestry woven with tragedy, unspoken words, and the shadow of misfortune. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Besant, Walter, 1836-1901 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Fourth Generation |
| Note | Reading ease score: 83.2 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Credits | Produced by Shaun Pinder, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction |
| Subject | Murder -- Fiction |
| Subject | Families -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 50177 |
| Release Date | Oct 10, 2015 |
| Most Recently Updated | Jun 28, 2020 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 137 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
