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Classic Literature

The Turnpike House: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

The Turnpike House: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

The Turnpike House is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Hume, Fergus (1859–1932).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"The Turnpike House" by Fergus Hume is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in a grim setting, focusing on the troubled lives of its characters, particularly a woman and her son, who are haunted by the presence of the boy's recently released convict father. Themes of poverty, familial turmoil, and psychological instability are evident from the start, suggesting a narrative rich in emotional depth and moral complexity. At the start of the novel, we enter a desolate turnpike house, where a mother and her son, Gilbert, navigate the harsh reality of their existence. The mother is embroiled in a frantic sewing task, clearly overwhelmed by fatigue and memories of her husband. The atmosphere thickens with anxiety when the boy fears that his father might return, prompting a fraught conversation about the father’s abusive past and the mother’s desperation to shield her child. Their fears become palpable as footsteps are heard outside, indicating the potential return of the father, thereby escalating the tension. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that themes of hatred, survival, and familial loyalty intertwine, setting the stage for the unfolding drama centered around the dark legacy of the past.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: The Turnpike House
  • Author credits: Hume, Fergus (1859–1932)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • England -- Fiction
  • Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
  • Mystery fiction

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Novels

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

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