How little Bessie kept the wolf from the door: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
How little Bessie kept the wolf from the door: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

How little Bessie kept the wolf from the door is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Coates, Mrs. (?–1879).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"How Little Bessie Kept the Wolf from the Door" by Mrs. Coates is a fictional narrative written during the late 19th century. The story delves into the struggles of a impoverished family living in an old house in London, focusing particularly on the Reardon family. The main characters include Matthew Reardon, a weary father grappling with the burden of providing for his family amid financial difficulties, and his young daughters Polly and Bessie, who find solace and strength in their faith as they navigate their challenging circumstances. At the start of the book, readers are introduced to the Reardon family, who reside in a run-down house that was once a noble mansion. The father, Matthew, is a struggling copyist, while his wife, Mrs. Reardon, works tirelessly to provide for their two daughters. As the family faces the harsh realities of poverty, the children often communicate their fears—particularly about a metaphorical "wolf" representing their financial woes. The opening chapters establish a poignant atmosphere of longing, resilience, and hope, as the siblings attend Sunday school, nurture their bond through shared hymns, and dream of a better life, all while their father fights to keep their dire situation from overwhelming them.
Book and edition facts
- Title: How little Bessie kept the wolf from the door
- Author credits: Coates, Mrs. (?–1879)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Children and death -- Juvenile fiction
- Christian life -- Juvenile fiction
- Kindness -- Juvenile fiction
- Poverty -- Juvenile fiction
- Sick -- Juvenile fiction
- Sisters -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British 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.


