The Hand of Douglas

Name: The Hand of Douglas
Author: Annie Fellows Johnston

The Hand of Douglas is a novel by Annie Fellows Johnston that tells the story of a young girl named Elizabeth who lives in a small town in Kentucky during the late 19th century. Elizabeth's life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a mysterious hand in her garden, which turns out to belong to a ghostly figure from her family's past. As Elizabeth learns more about the hand and its connection to her family's history, she must confront her own fears and insecurities in order to uncover the truth behind the hand's presence.

By Annie Fellows Johnston · First published 1915 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, War · 5,357 words

First lines

"Hurry, Mary Lee, it is nearly train time!" called Mrs. Marker, where she sat in a dingy little dining-room, pouring out a cup of coffee in nervous haste for her daughter's early breakfast. The brand-new hand-satchel on the lounge, packed for its first journey, was the only thing in the room undimmed by service. Even at this early hour the house felt hot and stuffy, for the August sun was fast warming the great Southern city to a heat that would be intolerable by noon.

"I wish you were going with Mary Lee, Henry," said Mrs. Marker, looking across the table at her husband as he seated himself. "You need the rest."

What this Textopian page supports

The Hand of Douglas is listed on Textopian as a short story by Annie Fellows Johnston, dated 1915 CE.

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

Work type: Short story
Author: Annie Fellows Johnston
Date: 1915 CE
Language: English
Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, War, Romantic
Length: 5,357 words
Structure: 1 section, 67 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Hand of Douglas by Annie Fellows Johnston
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Hand of Douglas?
How does this short story by Annie Fellows Johnston fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in the past and incorporates real events, places, and people from history into the fictitious story. The historical context of the novel is integral to the plot and character development.
Adventure — The plot involves a journey full of twists and turns, challenges and risks for the characters. This journey forms the core of the story, making Adventure a key genre.
War — The thematic elements of conflict, battle, and military strategy are woven into the plot, classifying it as a War genre.
Romantic — The story incorporates elements of love, passion, and emotional relationships. This provides the impetus for much of the characters' actions and reactions, qualifying it as a Romantic genre.