The Ark of 1803: A Story of Louisiana Purchase Times: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Ark of 1803: A Story of Louisiana Purchase Times: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Ark of 1803: A Story of Louisiana Purchase Times is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury) (1844–1931).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Ark of 1803: A Story of Louisiana Purchase Times" by C. A. Stephens is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. Set during the early 1800s when the Louisiana Purchase was a recent event, the story focuses on a group of young pioneers in Ohio who are preparing for their adventurous journey down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. The narrative primarily revolves around Jimmy Claiborne, a boy intent on proving himself to his peers and seeking a place on the upcoming voyage on the ark being built by young Captain Marion Royce. At the start of the story, we are introduced to the lively school scene in Fish Creek, Ohio, where the children demand a holiday from their somewhat neglectful schoolmaster, Master Hempstead. This trigger leads to a rebellion among the students as they conspire for a more festive school day, setting the stage for the communal spirit that is characteristic of the settlers. As the plot unfolds, complexities arise regarding Jimmy's ambition to join the ark’s voyage to New Orleans, which is complicated by other characters' perceptions of him, his family's struggles, and the society's norms. The early chapters provide a rich backdrop of pioneer life, character interactions, and hints of future conflicts, setting up an engaging narrative about growth, adventure, and the challenges of forging a new life in a tumultuous era.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Ark of 1803: A Story of Louisiana Purchase Times
- Author credits: Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury) (1844–1931)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Adventure and adventurers -- Juvenile fiction
- Frontier and pioneer life -- United States -- Juvenile fiction
- River boats -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Historical Novels
- Category: Novels
Read this edition
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.



