Life and Gabriella by Ellen Glasgow

Name: Life and Gabriella
Author: Ellen Glasgow

The novel revolves around the lives of two women, Life Evans and Gabriella Farrell, who embody contrasting values and lifestyles. Life, a strong-willed and independent woman, pursues a career in business, while Gabriella, beautiful and charming, relies on her physical attractiveness to manipulate men. The narrative explores their relationships with various men, including the wealthy and influential Fleming Mayo, and delves into themes of love, power, class, and identity.

By Ellen Glasgow · First published 1916 · Genre: Fiction, Romance, Social Commentary · 17 chapters · 183,394 words

First lines

After a day of rain the sun came out suddenly at five o'clock and threw a golden bar into the deep Victorian gloom of the front parlour. On the window-sill, midway between the white curtains, a pot of blue hyacinths stood in a cracked china plate, and as the sunlight shone into the room, the scent of the blossoms floated to the corner where Gabriella was patiently pulling basting threads out of the hem of a skirt. For a minute her capable hands stopped at their work, and raising her smooth dark head she looked compassionately at her sister Jane, who was sitting, like a frozen image of martyrdom, in the middle of the long horsehair sofa. Three times within the last twelve months Jane had fled from her husband's roof to the protection of her widowed mother, a weak person of excellent ancestry, who could hardly have protected a sparrow had one taken refuge beneath her skirt.

What this Textopian page supports

Life and Gabriella is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ellen Glasgow, dated 1916 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Ellen Glasgow
Date: 1916 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Social Commentary, Historical, Drama
Length: 183,394 words
Structure: 17 chapters, 2,629 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Life and Gabriella by Ellen Glasgow
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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How does this novel by Ellen Glasgow fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — The book is a work of narrative prose that tells a story about the life and experiences of the protagonist, Gabriella.
Romance — The plot includes significant romantic elements and relationships that are central to the story.
Social Commentary — The book explores themes related to social issues, class, and the role of women in society.
Historical — The setting and context of the story reflect a specific historical period, providing insights into the era's social and cultural dynamics.