A Waif of the Plains: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
A Waif of the Plains: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
A Waif of the Plains is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Harte, Bret (1836–1902).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"A Waif of the Plains" by Bret Harte is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story unfolds in the context of the American frontier, focusing on the travels and experiences of two children, Clarence and Susy, as they embark on a journey across the plains in an emigrant wagon heading toward California. The book explores themes of survival, companionship, and the innocence of childhood set against the backdrop of the harsh realities of pioneer life. At the start of the narrative, readers are introduced to Clarence, an orphan traveling with the Silsbee family, and Susy, the young daughter of the family's leader. As the wagon train makes its way through the monotonous yet treacherous terrain, Clarence navigates his feelings of displacement and dependency. The children engage in innocent play, but their world is abruptly shattered when they find themselves lost and separated from the train. As they strive to return to safety, the children confront the dangers of the frontier, including tensions with Native Americans and the trauma of loss, culminating in a deeply transformative experience that shapes their journey and character development throughout the story.
Book and edition facts
- Title: A Waif of the Plains
- Author credits: Harte, Bret (1836–1902)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Frontier and pioneer life -- United States -- Fiction
- Overland journeys to the Pacific -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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