Manslaughter by Alice Duer Miller

Name: Manslaughter
Author: Alice Duer Miller

"Manslaughter" is a novel written by Alice Duer Miller in 1927. The story follows the life of a young woman named Laura who, after being involved in a tragic accident that results in the death of her lover, becomes embroiled in a legal battle to avoid criminal charges. As the trial unfolds, Laura's past and present are revealed through flashbacks, revealing a complex and nuanced character struggling with guilt, grief, and the consequences of her actions. The novel explores themes of morality, justice, and the fragility of human relationships, ultimately raising questions about the nature of right and wrong in a society that often blurs the lines between the two.

By Alice Duer Miller · First published 1922 · Genre: Fiction, Romance, Drama · 18 chapters · 81,246 words

First lines

Whenever she and Lydia had a scene Miss Bennett thought of the first scene she had witnessed in the Thorne household. She saw before her a vermillion carpet on a mottled marble stair between high, polished-marble walls. There was gilt in the railing, and tall lanky palms stood about in majolica pots. Up this stairway an angry man was carrying an angrier child. Miss Bennett could see that broad back in its heavy blue overcoat, and his neck, above which the hair was still black, crimsoning with fury and exertion. On one side of him she could see the thin arms and clutching hands of the little girl, and on the other the slender kicking legs, expressing passionate rebellion in every spasmodic motion. The clutching hands caught the tip of a palm in passing, and the china pot went rolling down the stairs and crashed to bits, startling the two immense great Dane puppies which had been the occasion of the whole trouble.

What this Textopian page supports

Manslaughter is listed on Textopian as a novel by Alice Duer Miller, dated 1922 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Alice Duer Miller
Date: 1922 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Drama, Social Commentary
Length: 81,246 words
Structure: 18 chapters, 1,698 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — The book is primarily a work of fiction, using invented characters and plots.
Romance — Love and relationships form a significant part of the plot and themes of the novel.
Drama — The book contains dramatic elements such as conflict, tension, and high emotional stakes.
Social Commentary — The novel provides a critique of societal norms and customs, particularly those related to gender and class.