Home Again by George MacDonald

The novel Home Again by George MacDonald follows the story of a young man named Robert Falconer who returns to his hometown after years away at university. Upon his return, he discovers that much has changed in his absence and must navigate the challenges of reconnecting with old friends and family members while also trying to find his place in the world. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters who help him grow and learn about himself and the world around him.

By George MacDonald · First published 1879 · Genre: Fiction, Christian Literature, Family Saga · 32 chapters · 70,783 words

First lines

In the dusk of the old-fashioned best room of a farm-house, in the faint glow of the buried sun through the sods of his July grave, sat two elderly persons, dimly visible, breathing the odor which roses unseen sent through the twilight and open window. One of the two was scarcely conscious of the odor, for she did not believe in roses; she believed mainly in mahogany, linen, and hams; to the other it brought too much sadness to be welcomed, for it seemed, like the sunlight, to issue from the grave of his vanished youth. He was not by nature a sad man; he was only one that had found the past more delightful than the present, and had not left his first loves.

What this Textopian page supports

Home Again is listed on Textopian as a novel by George MacDonald, dated 1879 CE.

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

• Work type: Novel
• Author: George MacDonald
• Date: 1879 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fiction, Christian Literature, Family Saga, Romance, Historical Fiction
• Length: 70,783 words
• Structure: 32 chapters, 1,012 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Home Again by George MacDonald
• 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 Home Again?
• How does this novel by George MacDonald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• Returning Home by Anthony Trollope
• Port In A Storm by George Macdonald
• Home Again by David Cory
• Will You Come Back Home by Gilbert Parker
• The Sojourners by Gilbert Parker
• Old Sunshine by Francis Hopkinson Smith

Genres

• Fiction — The book is primarily a work of fiction, focusing on narrative storytelling and character development.
• Christian Literature — The themes and moral undertones are heavily influenced by Christian values and teachings.
• Family Saga — The plot revolves around family dynamics and relationships, exploring generational conflicts and resolutions.
• Romance — Elements of romantic relationships are present, contributing to character motivations and plot progression.

Tags

family · homecoming · redemption · self-discovery · love · forgiveness · relationships · nostalgia · personal growth · journey · community · faith

Contents

• The Parlor
• The Arbor
• A Pennyworth of Thinking
• A Living Force
• Flutterbies
• From Home
• A Change
• At Work
• Flattery
• The Round of the World
• The Song
• Love
• "Home is where the Heart is."
• A Midnight Review
• Reflection
• The Ride Together
• His Book
• A Winter Afternoon
• The Bodiless
• The Soulless
• The Last Ride
• The Summer-House
• The Park
• The Drawing-Room
• A Midnight Interview
• A Period
• A Fruitless Journey
• Doing and Dreaming
• Dream-Molly
• Workaday Molly
• This Picture and this
• The Last, but not the End

More by George MacDonald

• The Golden Key (1867)
• At the Back of the North Wind (1871)
• Phantastes (1858)
• The Light Princess (1864)
• The Cruel Painter (1875)
• The Castle (1870)
• The Wow o'Riven (1874)
• The Broken Swords (1954)
• All works by George MacDonald