Mercy Philbrick's Choice: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Mercy Philbrick's Choice: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Mercy Philbrick's Choice is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Jackson, Helen Hunt (1830–1885).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Mercy Philbrick's Choice" by Helen Hunt Jackson is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around the lives of two women, Mercy Philbrick and her elderly mother, as they embark on a new chapter in life by relocating to a small New England town, confronting personal struggles and societal expectations. Through their journey, the novel explores themes of identity, resilience, and the search for beauty amidst adversity. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Stephen White, a young man struggling with the drabness of his life and his unpopularity within his New England community. His narrative intertwines with that of Mercy Philbrick, who arrives in the town with her mother after leaving their old life behind. The striking opening scene sets a somber tone, highlighting Stephen's deep-seated aversion to ugliness and his yearning for beauty, both in his surroundings and in his relationships. As Mercy and her mother settle into their home, Stephen's interest in Mercy grows, revealing a complex dynamic that hints at potential connections, conflicts, and transformations as they navigate their paths in this new environment. The opening establishes a blend of introspective character development and rich atmospheric details, suggesting a thoughtful exploration of human connections shaped by circumstance and longing.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Mercy Philbrick's Choice
- Author credits: Jackson, Helen Hunt (1830–1885)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
- New England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
- Women poets, American -- 19th century -- Fiction
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.


