The Wicked Stepmother

Name: The Wicked Stepmother
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain

The Wicked Stepmother is a novella written by Basil Hall Chamberlain, first published in 1870. The story revolves around the life of a young girl named Mary, who is forced to live with her stepmother after her father's death. The stepmother is cruel and abusive towards Mary, making her life miserable. The novella explores themes of grief, loss, and the struggles of growing up without a mother figure in one's life. Through Mary's experiences, Chamberlain highlights the challenges faced by children who are forced to live with abusive or uncaring guardians after the death of their parents. The Wicked Stepmother is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today. Its exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the impact of trauma on individuals makes it a timeless classic in the realm of universal literature.

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1908 · Genre: Fiction, Fairy tales, Children's literature · 571 words

First lines

In ancient days, when men were allowed to have several wives, a certain man had two one about his own age, the other quite young, and he loved them both with equal tenderness. But when the younger of the two bore him a daughter, his love for his daughter made him also perhaps a little fonder of the mother of the child than of his other wife, to the latter's great rage. She revolved in her mind what to do, and at last feigned a grave illness, pretending not to be able even to eat, though she did eat when everybody's back was turned. At last, being to all appearance on the point of death, she declared that one thing alone could cure her. She must have the heart of her little step-child to eat.

What this Textopian page supports

The Wicked Stepmother is listed on Textopian as a short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1908 CE.

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

Work type: Short story
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date: 1908 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Fairy tales, Children's literature, Fantasy
Length: 571 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — The book falls under fiction as it presents narrative events that are not grounded in reality.
Fairy tales — The title and the narrative suggests the story to be a fairy tale as it involves a wicked stepmother which is a common character in this genre.
Children's literature — The book's simplistic plot and language are tailored to appeal to children.
Fantasy — The narrative entails instances of magic and unworldly elements often seen in a fantasy setup.