House Island by Dinah Mulock (1859)
In a Norwegian setting, a wealthy gentleman's daughter, Aslog, faces pressure to choose a suitor among many noble candidates. Secretly in love with the poor but noble Orm, she is forced to flee with him when her father threatens to choose a husband for her. They escape to a hidden cave in the mountains, living happily together until they are discovered. They take to the sea in a boat, eventually landing on an uninhabited island where they find a mysterious house. Inside, they discover everything prepared for them, and they spend a blissful summer there, culminating in the birth of their son. One day, an old woman named Guru appears, revealing she is the house's owner. She offers them prosperity but warns them against invoking the name of Christ or making the sign of the cross. During a festive night, Aslog, unable to resist, blesses her child, causing chaos and the departure of the magical beings. Guru, heartbroken, reveals that her husband has been turned to stone due to the name's utterance. She leaves them with the house and its treasures, and Orm later returns to the mainland, becoming wealthy. The stone figure remains on the island, a testament to their story, which is now known as House Island.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1859 · Genre: Fiction, Drama, Adventure · 4,016 words
First lines
There lived in Norway, not far from the city of Drontheim, a rich and prosperous gentleman. He had an only daughter, called Aslog, the fame of whose beauty spread far and wide. The greatest men of the country sought her, but all were alike unsuccessful in their suit. Her father, who thought his daughter delayed her choice only that she might choose the better, forbore to interfere, and exulted in her prudence. But when, at length, the richest and noblest had tried their fortune with as little success as the rest, he grew angry, called his daughter, and said to her: --
What this Textopian page supports
House Island is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1859 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1859 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Romance
- Length: 4,016 words
- Structure: 1 section, 33 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for House Island by Dinah Mulock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering House Island?
- How does this short story by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Nebraska Loadstone by Antonio Hope
- Secret Of The River by Fred M. White
- The House On The River by Fred M. White
- The Isle Of Skulls by Gertrude Atherton
- The Story Of The Discovery Of Scheyichbi by Frank R. Stockton
- Here Aboots by David Rorie
Genres
- Fiction — House Island, like most of Dinah Mulock's novels, is a work of fiction, featuring constructed narratives and characters.
- Drama — House Island contains dramatic sequences with conflicts and resolutions, characteristic of the Drama genre.
- Adventure — Dinah Mulock's House Island also has elements of adventure with its characters venturing into various explorations.
- Romance — The book includes romantic subplots and relationships, therefore placing it within the Romance genre.
Tags
island · mystery · adventure · family · secrets · relationships · survival · nature · exploration · suspense · drama · conflict