The Legacy of Cain: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Legacy of Cain: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Legacy of Cain is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Collins, Wilkie (1824–1889).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Legacy of Cain" by Wilkie Collins is a novel written during the late 19th century. The book opens with a narrative set within the grim confines of an English prison, examining the moral complexities surrounding a convicted murderess known simply as The Prisoner. As the opening chapters unfold, the story grapples with themes of justice, repentance, and the nature of evil, while shedding light on the lives of several key characters, including a compassionate chaplain, a conflicted governor, and the condemned woman herself. The beginning of the novel introduces us to the prison governor, who reflects on the events leading up to the execution of a woman who has killed her husband—a man whose flaws and failings are also revealed. The narrative delves into the psychological turmoil experienced by The Prisoner, her interactions with the chaplain and a visiting minister, as well as her maternal instincts as she confronts the reality of her impending death and the fate of her young daughter. The tension builds as the characters navigate their responsibilities and emotions against the backdrop of impending doom, setting the stage for a stirring exploration of guilt, redemption, and the legacy of one's actions.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Legacy of Cain
- Author credits: Collins, Wilkie (1824–1889)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Adopted children -- Fiction
- Children of women prisoners -- Fiction
- Clergy -- Fiction
- England -- Fiction
- Fathers and daughters -- Fiction
- Romantic suspense fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery
- 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.
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