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

The River Prophet is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Spears, Raymond S. (Raymond Smiley) (1876–1950).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The River Prophet" by Raymond S. Spears is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story introduces Elijah Rasba, a disillusioned preacher living alone in the mountains, who grapples with his faith and the meaning of morality after witnessing violence in a community he tried to guide. His journey leads him to confront his own shortcomings and the harsh realities of life, as he endeavors to save a troubled soul, Jock Drones, while also dealing with the challenges of the wilderness and the people he meets along the Mississippi River. The opening portion of the novel sets up the backstory of Elijah Rasba, detailing his solitary life in a dilapidated log cabin and the decline of the congregation that once thrived at his grandfather’s church. As he reflects on his failures as a preacher, particularly one significant and tragic event that occurred during a sermon, he becomes increasingly restless and desperate for purpose. His internal conflict culminates in a reckless decision to abandon his moral high ground and resort to drinking as he prepares to embark on a journey down the river, seeking redemption and purpose in the turbulent waters ahead. Meanwhile, other characters, such as Nelia Carline, further complicate the narrative with their own struggles, hinting at intertwining destinies that will unfold throughout the book.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The River Prophet
- Author credits: Spears, Raymond S. (Raymond Smiley) (1876–1950)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Mississippi River -- Fiction
- River life -- 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.



