Burnham Breaker: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Burnham Breaker: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Burnham Breaker is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Greene, Homer (1853–1940).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Burnham Breaker" by Homer Greene is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in the backdrop of Scranton, Pennsylvania, a city entrenched in the coal-mining industry, and follows the lives of young boys toiling under harsh conditions, particularly highlighting the character of Ralph. Ralph, who yearns for a sense of belonging and searches for his identity, becomes entwined with Robert Burnham, the compassionate manager, whose kindness touches the lives of those working under him. The opening of "Burnham Breaker" sets up a vivid portrayal of the coal breaker where boys work long hours, picking slate from coal, while dreaming of freedom and a better life outside their prison-like environment. On a significant day, which happens to be circus day, the screen-room boys find their mundane toil interrupted when Burnham rewards their loyalty by granting them time off to visit the circus. This gesture highlights Burnham's compassion and foreshadows the deeper connections that will unravel between him and Ralph, especially as Ralph's past comes to light, revealing his lack of identity and longing for family. The narrative begins to weave themes of identity, loss, and the struggles of the working class in an industrial society.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Burnham Breaker
- Author credits: Greene, Homer (1853–1940)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Boys -- Juvenile fiction
- Coal mines and mining -- Juvenile fiction
- Foundlings -- Juvenile fiction
- Scranton (Pa.) -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Novels
Read this edition
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.


