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Eli's Children: The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Eli's Children: The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family: 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

Eli's Children: The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Fenn, George Manville (1831–1909).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Eli's Children: The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family" by George Manville Fenn is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story is set in a small, close-knit community and revolves around the lives of the Mallow family, particularly focusing on the dynamics between the Reverend Eli Mallow, his troublesome sons, and the village's old customs and conflicts. As tensions rise with the arrival of new ideas and reform attempts within the church, the narrative explores themes of tradition versus innovation, familial duty, and the struggles of maintaining one's place in a changing world. The opening of the novel introduces us to the inhabitants of Lawford, particularly the old church clerk, Sammy Warmoth, who is resistant to the changes proposed by the new rector, Eli Mallow. A conversation between Warmoth and Master Portlock reveals the poor condition of the church and hints at the impending conflicts that the rector's reforms will bring. Meanwhile, Eli Mallow's daughters, Julia and Cynthia, express their excitement upon returning to the countryside after time abroad, while their father's strained relationship with his sons—Frank and Cyril—is established, suggesting an overlay of familial tension that will likely unfold as the narrative progresses. The initial chapters set up a vivid portrayal of village life, foreshadowing a deeper exploration of family and community struggles against the backdrop of change.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Eli's Children: The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family
  • Author credits: Fenn, George Manville (1831–1909)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Dysfunctional families -- Fiction

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: British 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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