The Ancestral Footstep (fragment): Outlines of an English Romance: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Ancestral Footstep (fragment): Outlines of an English Romance: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Ancestral Footstep (fragment): Outlines of an English Romance is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Hawthorne, Nathaniel (1804–1864).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Ancestral Footstep" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an unfinished romance written in the late 19th century. The narrative revolves around Middleton, an American descendant of an ancient English family, who embarks on a quest to uncover family secrets linked to a blood-stained footprint left at his ancestral home. As he travels through England, the themes of identity, ancestry, and the haunting echoes of the past are interwoven with his encounters, particularly with an enigmatic old man and a mysterious young lady, Alice. At the start of the story, Middleton reflects on his travels through the idyllic English countryside, filled with hope and excitement in his search for his ancestral home, while simultaneously contemplating the odds against him. His journey introduces him to various characters, including an intriguing old man with whom he shares a connection, and a young woman whose presence fascinates him. As Middleton navigates these relationships, he becomes increasingly aware of the weight of history that surrounds him, including the dark legacies of a family divided by conflict and betrayal. The opening establishes a richly atmospheric setting that foreshadows the revelations and conflicts that Middleton faces as he delves deeper into the mysteries of his lineage.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Ancestral Footstep (fragment): Outlines of an English Romance
- Author credits: Hawthorne, Nathaniel (1804–1864)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- American literature
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Novels
- Category: Romance
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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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