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Colonel Starbottle's Client: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Colonel Starbottle's Client: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Colonel Starbottle's Client 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:

"Colonel Starbottle's Client" by Bret Harte is a novella written in the late 19th century. This narrative offers a glimpse into the life of Colonel Starbottle, a flamboyant attorney in a small California town, as he navigates a complex case involving his client, Jo Corbin, who reveals a dark past and an internal struggle between guilt and responsibility following the killing of his former partner. The storyline sets the stage for a blend of humor, wit, and commentary on morality amidst the backdrop of frontier justice. The opening of the novella introduces Colonel Starbottle and establishes his boisterous personality as he ceaselessly engages in the legal profession after his political campaigns. His encounter with Jo Corbin, a discontented and guilt-ridden man, reveals the gravity of Corbin's situation—the guilt from a fatal altercation with his partner. As the Colonel listens to Corbin’s tale of remorse and intention to provide financial support to his victim's family, he becomes embroiled in a moral dilemma that impacts both men. The Colonel’s witty demeanor contrasts with the serious undertone of their conversation, setting up a dynamic exploration of themes like guilt and atonement while hinting at the deeper emotional entanglements that both characters undergo as the story progresses.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Colonel Starbottle's Client
  • Author credits: Harte, Bret (1836–1902)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Western stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: American Literature
  • 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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