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

The Fifth String is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Sousa, John Philip (1854–1932).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Fifth String" by John Philip Sousa is a novel written in the early 20th century, likely during the first couple of decades of that century. The story revolves around a talented Italian violinist, Angelo Diotti, who finds himself wrestling with the concepts of love, art, and the sacrifices that come with pursuing both. The book combines elements of romance, drama, and a touch of philosophical musings about the nature of happiness and artistry. The narrative follows Diotti as he arrives in America, where he becomes infatuated with the beautiful Mildred Wallace. Despite achieving notoriety and acclaim for his performances, he feels a deep emotional inadequacy due to Mildred's cold indifference towards him. In an act of desperation to win her love, he encounters an eerie character representing Satan, who offers him a violin with a fateful fifth string—a string of death. As Diotti struggles with his desire for Mildred, he learns that the power of love and the risks associated with his art can lead to destruction. The plot crescendoes to a dramatic conclusion where Diotti plays on the fifth string, resulting in a haunting climax that raises questions about the cost of genius and the essence of true love. Ultimately, the story explores themes of desire, loss, and the interplay between love and the sacrifices made in the name of art.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Fifth String
- Author credits: Sousa, John Philip (1854–1932)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Love stories
- Violinists -- Fiction
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.


