The story of a Hessian: A tale of the revolution in New Jersey: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The story of a Hessian: A tale of the revolution in New Jersey: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The story of a Hessian: A tale of the revolution in New Jersey is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Guernsey, Lucy Ellen (1826–1899).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The story of a Hessian" by Lucy Ellen Guernsey is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. Set between Thuringia and Revolutionary-era New Jersey, it centers on Caspar Reinhart, a Hessian blacksmith forced into British service, and his steadfast family—Gertrude, Philip, Margaret, and little Gustaf—who wrestle with loss, conscience, and the lure of a freer life in America. The opening of the story contrasts a prince’s wolf-hunt with the funeral of Gertrude’s “innocent” child, revealing her rage at the landgrave who sold her husband to war and the gentle reassurance of Count Maurice, who insists Americans treat prisoners humanely. A wolf pack hidden in the churchyard vault is discovered and destroyed, Philip returns a lost locket to Count Maurice, and a Moravian preacher’s tender sermon stirs both village comfort and Count Victor’s spiritual doubts; the counts visit Gertrude, whose revived hope turns toward emigrating to America, while Philip quietly sacrifices his artist’s dream for the family’s good. The narrative then shifts to Philadelphia: during the Mischianza festivities, Caspar’s skill as a smith brings him into Major André’s orbit; he protects an American spy, Jonathan Elmer, instead of betraying him, earning the enmity of Captain Burger and a perilous assignment from General Clinton to scout New Jersey. Caspar slips downriver by night, enters a lonely Jersey creek at dawn, and, just as the excerpt closes, rushes ashore to drive off a bear menacing a little girl named Kitty.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The story of a Hessian: A tale of the revolution in New Jersey
- Author credits: Guernsey, Lucy Ellen (1826–1899)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- New Jersey -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
Read this edition
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.
Sources
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
