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

The Shadow of Life is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Sedgwick, Anne Douglas (1873–1935).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Shadow of Life" by Anne Douglas Sedgwick is a novel written in the early 20th century, likely around the early 1900s. The story begins with a poignant exploration of childhood and personal loss through the character Elspeth Gifford, a young girl who moves to Kirklands with her relatives after the deaths of her parents. The novel delves into themes of familial affection, the innocence of childhood, and the experiences that shape one's understanding of life, death, and connection. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Elspeth as she navigates her new life with her uncle and aunts in the Scottish countryside. At just five years old, she grapples with the feelings of abandonment and the melancholic mystery of death, evoking a sense of both soothing comfort in her uncle's kindness and the vibrant joys of childhood through her exploration of nature at Kirklands. As she grows, the introduction of new characters, such as her cousin Gavan, hints at the deepening of her emotional world. The opening chapters establish a lush and intricately detailed setting, while also suggesting upcoming complexities as Elspeth's relationships and perceptions evolve against the backdrop of loss and growing up.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Shadow of Life
- Author credits: Sedgwick, Anne Douglas (1873–1935)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British 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.


