There was an old woman—: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
There was an old woman—: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
There was an old woman— is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Silverberg, Robert (1935–?).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"There Was an Old Woman—" by Robert Silverberg is a thought-provoking science fiction novel written in the late 1950s. The book delves into themes of identity, individuality, and the consequences of extreme parental control through a unique narrative centered on a mother and her thirty-one identical sons. It explores how environmental factors influence personal development, challenging the notion of genetic determinism. The story revolves around Donna Mitchell, a biochemist, who conducts a radical experiment to test her theory that environment shapes personality and profession. By creating thirty-one identical sons through advanced reproductive techniques, she meticulously plans their futures, each assigned a different career path. As they approach adulthood, the sons begin to experience disillusionment, discovering that they are not destined for the lives their mother envisioned. The narrative culminates in a shocking resolution, as the brothers confront their dissatisfaction and take drastic measures to escape their predetermined fates, ultimately leading to their mother's demise. Silverberg crafts a gripping tale that raises ethical questions about parental ambition and the essence of individuality.
Book and edition facts
- Title: There was an old woman—
- Author credits: Silverberg, Robert (1935–?)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Human cloning -- Fiction
- Mothers and sons -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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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.
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