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

The Stillwater Tragedy is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Aldrich, Thomas Bailey (1836–1907).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Stillwater Tragedy" by Thomas Bailey Aldrich is a fictional novel likely written in the late 19th century. This book delves into the dark and mysterious atmosphere surrounding a murder in the seemingly quaint village of Stillwater. As the narrative unfolds, it reveals the tumultuous and often harsh lives of the townsfolk, especially focusing on the main characters, including the recently deceased wealthy man, Mr. Lemuel Shackford, and his estranged cousin, Richard Shackford. The opening of the story sets a chilling tone just before daybreak in Stillwater, where the body of Mr. Shackford lies dead, the victim of a violent crime. As the sun rises, the village awakens to the rhythm of daily life while grappling with the shock of the murder. Young Mary Hennessey, whose delayed delivery of milk leads her to discover the crime scene, becomes the reluctant center of attention as gossip spreads. Shortly afterward, the townspeople gather in anxiety and suspicion, initiating an investigation led by the local authorities. Through vivid descriptions and evocative character portrayals, the beginning of the novel establishes an unsettling mood as it explores themes of violence, greed, and the fragile nature of community bonds in the face of tragedy.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Stillwater Tragedy
- Author credits: Aldrich, Thomas Bailey (1836–1907)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Mystery fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American 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.


