The Minister's Charge; Or, The Apprenticeship of Lemuel Barker: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Minister's Charge; Or, The Apprenticeship of Lemuel Barker: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Minister's Charge; Or, The Apprenticeship of Lemuel Barker is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Howells, William Dean (1837–1920).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
“The Minister's Charge; Or, The Apprenticeship of Lemuel Barker” by William Dean Howells is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story follows the relationship between a minister, David Sewell, and a young, aspiring poet named Lemuel Barker living in rural Willoughby Pastures. The narrative delves into themes of ambition, artistic failure, and the responsibilities that come with mentorship. The opening of the novel provides a glimpse into Sewell's life as he reflects on his encounters with Lemuel and the disappointment he feels about the boy's unrealistic aspirations in poetry. After initially offering praise to the young poet, Sewell grapples with guilt over his previous encouragement as he receives a letter from Lemuel seeking assistance in publishing his work. The minister's internal conflict grows throughout the opening chapters, establishing the deep moral quandary he faces when he finally meets Lemuel again in Boston. Sewell's hesitance is met with Lemuel's naïveté, as he remains hopeful despite the odds against him, contrasting the harsh realities of rural life with the aspirations of artistic ambition. This sets the tone for a thoughtful exploration of sincerity, disappointment, and the complexities of kindness versus honesty.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Minister's Charge; Or, The Apprenticeship of Lemuel Barker
- Author credits: Howells, William Dean (1837–1920)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Boston (Mass.) -- Fiction
- Clergy -- Fiction
- Poets -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American 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.
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