Son and Heir by Edith Nesbit (1913)
This is a fascinating story! Let me summarize it for you: The narrator, an old woman who was once a housekeeper at the Hall, tells the story of how she discovered a dark secret about young Sir Jasper, the son of her late master. One night, while everyone was asleep, she caught Sir Jasper trying to steal something from his father's coffin. She intervened and prevented him from doing so, but not before he had revealed his true nature. The next day, the doctor arrived and took charge of the situation. He discovered that the item Sir Jasper was trying to steal was a small leather case containing a lock of hair, a wedding ring, a marriage certificate, and a baptism certificate - proof that Sir Robert, the gamekeeper, was actually the son of her late master's first marriage. As a result, Sir Robert inherited the entailed estates, while Sir Jasper was left with nothing. The narrator is now employed by Sir Robert as his housekeeper and is grateful to be working for someone who is kind and respectful towards her. The story explores themes of family secrets, betrayal, and redemption, and features a strong and resourceful female protagonist who plays a crucial role in uncovering the truth and bringing justice to those involved.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1913 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 3,994 words
First lines
SIR JASPER was always the best of masters to me and to all of us; / and he had that kind of way with him, masterful and gentle at the / same time, like as if he was kind to you for his own pleasure, and / ordering you about for your own good, that I believe any of us would / have cut our hand off at the wrist if he had told us to.
What this Textopian page supports
Son and Heir is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 3,994 words
- Structure: 1 section, 55 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Son and Heir by Edith Nesbit
- 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
Similar titles
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- Change by Edith Nesbit
- At The Gate by Edith Nesbit
- The Tree Of Knowledge by Edith Nesbit
- The Onlooker by Edith Nesbit
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is centered around a young protagonist and his experiences, making it suitable for a younger audience.
- Fantasy — The story incorporates elements of magic and otherworldly adventures, characteristic of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a series of exciting journeys and challenges, fitting the adventure genre.
Tags
Family Relationships · Inheritance · Social Class · Wealth · Power Struggle · Coming of Age · Identity Crisis · Self-Discovery · Morality · Ethics · Right and Wrong · Moral Dilemma