The House of Martha

Name: The House of Martha
Author: Frank R. Stockton

The House of Martha is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton. It tells the tale of a young woman named Martha who lives in a small town and runs a boarding house for travelers. One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at her doorstep seeking lodging. As he stays longer, strange things begin to happen around the house, leading Martha to question his true identity and intentions. The story explores themes of trust, deception, and the power of intuition.

By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1895 · Genre: Romance, Satire, Comedy · 52 chapters · 109,617 words

First lines

My grandmother sat in her own particular easy-chair by the open window of her back parlor. This was a pleasant place in which to sit in the afternoon, for the sun was then on the other side of the house, and she could look not only over the smooth grass of the side yard and the flower beds, which were under her especial care, but across the corner of the front lawn into the village street. Here, between two handsome maple-trees which stood upon the sidewalk, she could see something of what was going on in the outer world without presenting the appearance of one who is fond of watching her neighbors. It was not much that she saw, for the street was a quiet one; but a very little of that sort of thing satisfied her.

What this Textopian page supports

The House of Martha is listed on Textopian as a novel by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1895 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Frank R. Stockton
Date: 1895 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romance, Satire, Comedy, Drama, Social Commentary
Length: 109,617 words
Structure: 52 chapters, 1,782 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The House of Martha by Frank R. Stockton
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The House of Martha?
How does this novel by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Romance first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Romance — The central plot revolves around a romantic relationship.
Satire — The narrative includes satirical elements that critique societal norms.
Comedy — The story contains humorous situations and dialogue.
Drama — The book explores emotional and relational conflicts.