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

The Altar Steps is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for MacKenzie, Compton (1883–1972).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Altar Steps" by Compton MacKenzie is a novel written during the early 20th century. The story begins in a London mission setting, focusing on the character of a little boy named Mark Lidderdale, whose life is intertwined with the church and the complexities of his family's dynamics, including his father, a missioner, and mother, as they navigate their roles in the ecclesiastical setting of that era. The opening of the book portrays a vivid glimpse into Mark's childhood filled with a blend of innocence and fear, encapsulated in his night-time worries and whimsical thoughts surrounding his experiences with the Bishop's impending visit. As he wrestles with ideas of disaster and divine protection, readers are introduced to his loving, yet perhaps overly cautious mother, alongside a father who is deeply invested in his ecclesiastical duties. The transition into the life of the Lidderdale family hints at deeper themes of parental expectations and the challenges of faith and duty, setting the stage for Mark's growth in a world deeply influenced by religious convictions and personal aspirations.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Altar Steps
- Author credits: MacKenzie, Compton (1883–1972)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Children of clergy -- Fiction
- Clergy -- England -- 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.



