The Fool: A Play in Four Acts: Play Guide and Free Edition
The Fool: A Play in Four Acts: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Fool: A Play in Four Acts is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Pollock, Channing (1880–1946).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Fool: A Play in Four Acts" by Channing Pollock is a dramatic play written in the early 20th century. The narrative unfolds in the backdrop of post-World War I America, focusing on themes of social responsibility, moral dilemmas, and class struggles through its central character, Daniel Gilchrist, an assistant rector grappling with the expectations of his affluent congregation while confronting societal issues like labor strikes and poverty. The beginning of the play introduces us to several characters gathered in the Church of the Nativity on Christmas Eve, 1918. Mrs. Gilliam, her flapper daughter Dilly, and Mrs. Thornbury prepare for a church Christmas event while discussing superficial concerns about appearances and selfless philanthropy. As they interact, we are introduced to Gilchrist, who is depicted as a passionate and idealistic character. Tensions arise when the conversation shifts to class inequality, highlighting Gilchrist’s struggle to balance his beliefs with the expectations of the wealthy congregants and illustrating the social dynamics of the time. The opening sets the stage for the conflict and moral questions that will unfold throughout the play, establishing a rich exploration of societal challenges and personal ethics.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Fool: A Play in Four Acts
- Author credits: Pollock, Channing (1880–1946)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- American drama -- 20th century
- Christian life -- Drama
- Clergy -- Drama
- New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- Drama
- Strikes and lockouts -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 20th century -- Drama
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
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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.


