Father and Son by Edmund Gosse

Name: Father and Son
Author: Edmund Gosse

The memoir recounts the author's childhood and his complex relationship with his father, Philip Henry Gosse, a naturalist and devout Christian. The narrative explores their contrasting worldviews, with the father adhering to a strict, fundamentalist Christianity and the son embracing a more liberal, secular perspective. The book portrays the emotional turmoil and intellectual struggles that arise from their differing beliefs, ultimately leading to a rift between them.

By Edmund Gosse · First published 1907 · Genre: Autobiography, Non-fiction, Biography · 13 chapters · 90,618 words

First lines

THIS book is the record of a struggle between two temperaments, two consciences and almost two epochs. It ended, as was inevitable, in disruption. Of the two human beings here described, one was born to fly backward, the other could not help being carried forward. There came a time when neither spoke the same language as the other, or encompassed the same hopes, or was fortified by the same desires. But, at least, it is some consolation to the survivor, that neither, to the very last hour, ceased to respect the other, or to regard him with a sad indulgence.

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Father and Son is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edmund Gosse, dated 1907 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Edmund Gosse
Date: 1907 CE
Language: English
Genres: Autobiography, Non-fiction, Biography, Victorian literature, Religious literature
Length: 90,618 words
Structure: 13 chapters, 708 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Genres

Autobiography — The work is a personal account of the author's life, specifically his relationship with his father.
Non-fiction — The work is based on real events and people, not invented.
Biography — The work details the life of the author's father, making it a biography as well.
Victorian literature — The work was written during the Victorian era and reflects the social and moral issues of that time.